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THE 


HISTORICAL 


COLLECTIONS 

OK  THE 

TOPSF1ELD 

HISTORICAL  SOCIETY. 

VOI.  1. 


1895. 


TOPSFIELD,  MASS.: 
Published  by  the  Society. 
1895. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2015 


https://archive.org/details/historicalcollec01unse 


CONTENTS 


List  of  officers  for  the  year  1895,  iv 

Constitution  of  the  Society,  v 

List  of  membership,  vi 

Report  of  the  Secretary,  vn 

Report  of  the  Treasurer,  ix 

List  of  Donations,  ix 

Introductory  remarks,  Jan.  4,  1895  — Justin  Allen,  M.D.,  1 

Anne  Bradstreet — Metta  Bradstreet,  3 

Burning  of  Rea’s  Tavern,  1836 — Mrs.  T.  K.  Leach,  7 

Topsfield  Minute-men  at  Lexington,  10 

William  Towne  and  his  daughters — Mrs.  Abbie  W.  Towne,  12 

Settlement  of  Topsfield — Geo.  Frs.  Dow,  13 

Petition  from  Ipswich  farmers  in  r758,  18 

Topsfield  Warren  Blues — Benj.  J.  Balch,  19 

Trial  of  Elizabeth  P.  Bradstreet — Mrs.  Theo.  W.  Haven,  30 

Sketch  of  Dr.  Nehemiah  Cleaveland — Charles  J.  Peabody,  35 

Francis  Peabody’s  grist  mill — John  H.  Towne,  39 

Topsfield  Baptismal  Records  1727-1779 — Geo.  Frs.  Dow.  Appendix. 


Fopsfield  Historical  Society 


Officers  for  the  year  1895. 


President, 

Justin  Allen,  M.D. 


Vice-President, 

Charles  J.  Peabody. 


Secretary, 

GEO.  Frs.  Dow. 


Treasurer, 

Geo.  Frs.  Dow. 


Curator, 

Geo.  Frs.  Dow. 


Executive  Committee: 

Justin  Aei.en,  M.D.,  ex-officio. 

Charles  J.  Peabody,  ex-officio. 

Geo.  Frs.  Dow.  ex  officio, 

Wellington  Donaldson. 


Joseph  B.  Poor, 


V 


CONSTITUTION 

OF  THF 

TOPSFIELD  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY. 

Adopted,  December  14,  1894. 


ARTICLE  I. 

This  organization  shall  be  known  as  The  Topsfield  Historical  Society. 

ARTICLE  II. 

Its  object  is  the  collection,  preservation  and  study  of  all  historical  materials 
relating  to  the  town  of  Topsfield,  and  it  also  shall  be  the  the  purpose  of  the 
society  to  encourage  the  study  of  natural  history  in  its  various  branches. 

ARTICLE  III. 

The  officers  shall  consist  of  a President,  Vice-President,  Secretary,  Treasurer, 
Curator,  and  an  executive  committee,  five  in  number,  of  which  the  President, 
Vice-President  and  Secretary  shall  be  ex  officio  members. 

All  officers  shall  be  chosen  by  ballot  at  the  annual  meeting. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

The  Secretary  shall  give  notice  of  all  meetings  and  record  their  proceedings, 
and  at  the  annual  meeting  shall  make  report  of  the  doings  of  the  Society  for  the 
preceding  year. 

He  shall  also  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  all  donations  and  preserve  a record 
of  the  same. 

ARTICLE  V. 

The  Executive  Committee  shall  have  general  charge  of  the  Society,  and  it 
shall  be  their  duty  to  select  suitable  subjects  for  discussion  at  each  meeting  and 
arrange  for  the  preparation  of  papers  or  addresses  on  the  same. 

ARTICLE  VI. 

All  persons  interested  in  the  objects  of  this  Society  are  eligible  for  membership. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

Any  person  may  be  elected  a member  at  a regular  meeting  by  a majority  vote 
of  the  members  present  and  voting,  the  name  of  such  person  having  been  pro- 
posed in  writing  by  two  members  at  a previous  meeting. 

ARTICLE  VIII. 

An  annual  fee  of  fifty  cents  shall  be  paid  in  advance  by  every  member. 

ARTICLE  IX. 

Regular  meetings  shall  be  held  on  the  first  Friday  of  every  month,  excepting 
June,  July  and  August,  and  the  meeting  held  in  January  shall  be  the  annual 
meeting  for  the  hearing  of  all  reports  and  election  of  officers  for  the  ensuing 
year. 

ARTICLE  X. 

This  constitution  may  be  amended  at  any  regular  meeting  by  a three-fourths 
vote  of  the  members  present,  notice  thereof  having  been  given  at  a preceding 
meeting. 


VI 


LIST  OK  MEMBERSHIP 

JANUARY  3,  1896. 


Adams,  Lizzie  A. 

Allen,  Justin,  M.I). 

Averill,  Charles 
Balch,  Benjamin  J. 

Balch,  Mrs.  Caroline  P. 

Balch,  Franklin 
Barnard,  Charles  N. 

Bradstreet,  Gertrude 
Bradstreet,  Metta 
Bradstreet,  Sarah  R. 

Blaisdell,  J.  Albert 
Blaisdell,  Mrs.  Annie 
Chandler,  James  H. 

Chandler,  Mrs.  Carrie 
Clark,  Marietta 
Conant,  Albert  A. 

Cummings,  Julia,  Boxford 
Dodge,  Albert  M. 

Dodge,  Samuel  P. 

Donaldson,  Wellington 
Donaldson,  Mrs.  Lillian 
Dow,  Geo.  Frs. 

Dwinell,  Esther 
Dwinell,  Sarah 
Edwards,  Benjamin  P. 

Edwards,  Mrs.  Eveline 
Edwards,  Sarah  S.,  Haverhill 
Field,  Mrs.  Emma  J.,  Lynn 
Fiske,  Amos  T. 

Fuller,  Daniel 

Fuller,  Mrs.  P'rancelia  M. 

Fuller,  Calvin  W. 

Fuller,  Mrs.  Harriett 
Gleason,  Annie,  Haverhill 
Glover,  Mrs.  Gertrude,  Ipswich 
Gould,  Mrs.  Abbie  J. 

Gould,  George  L.,  Malden 
Gould,  Mary  E. 

Gould,  W.  Pitman 
Gould,  Mrs.  Mettie 
Haven,  Mrs.  Susan 
Hodges,  Mary  Osgood 
Hood,  Salmon  D. 

Hutchings,  Arthur  W. 
Hutchings,  Mrs.  Emma 
Hutchings.  Mrs.  Esther  W. 


Johnson,  Arthur 
Johnson,  Mrs.  Nettie 
I Lake,  Alice 
J Lake,  Otto  E. 
j Lamson,  J.  Arthur 
I Lamson,  Mrs.  Hattie 
1 Leach,  Charles  H. 

! Leach,  Mrs.  Mary  A. 

I Leach,  Mrs.  Louisa 
Long,  Ira  P. 

! Nichols,  Mrs.  Mary  L. 
Peabody,  Charles  J. 

Peabody,  Mrs.  Annie 
Peabody,  Bessie 
Perkins,  Clara  E. 

Perkins,  Harris  E. 

Perkins,  Lyman  A. 

Perley,  Sidney,  Salem 
Peterson,  Mrs.  Cynthia  W. 
Pierce,  E.  Nelson 
Pike,  Baxter  P. 

Pike,  Mrs.  Sarah 
Poole,  Rev.  Francis  A. 

Poor,  Joseph  B. 

| Poor,  Mrs.  Mary 
j Poor,  Lizzie  A. 

! Porter,  Hattie  S. 

I Potter,  John  H. 

1 Pray,  Ruel  B. 

| Pray,  Mrs.  Caroline 
I Putnam,  Eben,  Salem 
Rust,  Forrest  W. 

Sturgis,  Mrs.  Annie,  Ipswich 
1 Todd,  Ada 
Todd,  Hattie 
Todd,  Mehitable 
Towne,  Mrs.  Abbie  W. 

Towne,  John  H. 

Towne,  Rosa  H. 

Towne,  S.  Josephine 
Trowbridge,  Charles  I. 
Trowbridge,  Mrs.  Fanny 
i Webster,  Albert 
! Welch,  Mrs.  Ellen  H. 

! Welch,  Leone  P. 

Woodbury,  Mrs.  Sarah 


VII 


SECRETARY'S  REPORT. 


To  present  the  first  annual  report 
of  a Historical  Society  is  an  honor 
but  few  have  had  the  opportunity  of 
embracing,  and  in  the  present  in- 
stance I particularly  esteem  it,  be- 
cause of  the  great  and  growing  sue 
cess  of  our  Society,  which  from  a 
humble  beginning  has  gradually 
gained  in  membership  and  influence 
until  it  has  become  a factor  in  the 
life  of  the  town 

Mv  connection  with  the  Society 
has  been  a source  of  much  pleasure, 
and  the  custom  of  legularlv  holding 
our  meetings  in  this  house  has  in 
part,  I think,  added  to  their  interest, 
the  social  feature  naturally  proving 
attractive,  so  that  it  gives  me  great 
pleasure  to  again  extend  to  you  an 
invitation  to  hold  here  the  future 
meetings  of  our  Society. 

In  reviewing  the  work  accom- 
plished during  the  past  year,  perhaps 
the  two  more  prominent  features  are 
the  printing  of  historical  collections 
and  the  gathering  of  a nucleus  for  a 
cabinet  collection  of  relics  and  cu- 
riosities. Of  the  latter  the  number  of 
objects  is  as  yet  not  large,  but,  as  a 
small  room  in  the  Town  hall  has  been 
so  kindly  set  aside  for  our  use  by  the 
town  authorities,  it  is  hoped  our 
funds  may  increase  and  during  the 
coming  year  suitable  cabinets  may  be 
obtained  wherein  our  collection  of 
historical  relics  may  be  properly  dis- 
played, safe  from  the  curious  hand- 
ling of  visitors.  The  expense  will 
not  be  great  and  I would  particular- 
ly call  to  your  attention  the  needs  of 
the  Society  in  this  respect  with  the 


hope  that  some  means  can  be  de- 
vised for  increasing  our  revenue  with 
this  end  in  view. 

About  the  first  of  February  our 
volume  of  Historical  Collections  will 
be  ready  for  distribution.  It  will 
consist  of  about  one  hundred  pages 
of  text,  with  several  illustrations. 
The  executive  committee  have 
thought  it  best  to  distribute  one  copy 
to  each  member  gratis  and  hold  the 
remainder  of  the  edition  at  a fixed 
price,  hoping  to  derive  a small  reve- 
nue from  their  sale.  While  many 
other  Societies,  historical  and  philo- 
sophical, follow  the  practice  of 
holding  their  reports  or  collections 
at  a certain  price  irrespective  of 
membership,  your  executive  commit- 
tee have  thought  best  to  make  this 
distribution  hoping  by  so  doing  to 
bind  more  closely  the  membership  tie 
and  place  in  the  hands  of  each  asso- 
ciate, whether  a resident  of  Topsfield 
or  living  in  some  distant  city,  yet 
alike  interested  in  our  work,  some 
tangible  evidence  of  their  affiliation 
with  our  Society. 

There  have  been  ten  meetings  of 
the  society  held  during  the  past  year. 
Papers  have  been  prepared  and  read 
by  the  following  members  : Mrs.  T. 

K.  Leach,  Mrs.  Haven,  Mrs.  G. War- 
ren Towne,  Miss  Metta  Bradstreet, 
Miss  Ada  Todd,  Miss  Esther  Dwio- 
ell,  Miss  Hattie  Todd,  Miss  Bessie 
Peabody,  Justin  Allen,  M.  D.,  Benj. 
J.  Balch,  John  H.  Towne,  W.  Don- 
aldson, C.  J.  Peabody,  J.  H.  Potter, 
A.  M.  Dodge  and  your  secretar}7, 
and  several  of  the  papers  so  prepared 


VIII 


have  been  printed  in  the  collection. 

Sidney  Perley,  Esq.,  of  Salem,  was 
present  at  the  first  meeting  of  the 
society  and  spoke  on  organized  his- 
torical work.  At  the  March  meeting 
lion.  Robert  S.  Rantoul  of  Salem 
was  present  and  read  an  interesting 
paper  on  “The  Era  of  the  Stage 
Coach.”  June  19  a field  meeting 
was  held  at  the  agricultural  farm  and 
notwithstanding  severe  showers  a 
good  number  was  present.  Papers 
were  read  by  Mrs.  Abbie  W.  Towne, 
Beuj.  J.  Balch,  Charles  J.  Peabody 
and  your  secretary.  Several  points 
of  historical  interest  were  visited, 
the  company  finally  reaching  the 
house  of  George  F.  Averill,  who  very 
hospitably  threw  open  his  doors  and 
entertained  the  society  royally. 

On  Sept.  20  a well  attended  public 
meeting  was  held  at  the  Town  hall 
when  Ezra  Hines,  Esq.,  of  Danvers 
delivered  an  address  on  the  “Mean- 
ing  and  Value  of  Historical  Socie- 
ties”  and  also  described  his  search 
for  the  portraits  of  the  Browne  fam- 
ily, the  builders  of  the  Folly  hill 
mansion  in  Danvers.  Charles  J. 
Peabody  also  read  a biographical 
sketch  on  Dr.  Nehemiah  Cleaveland. 
At  the  December  meeting  Rev.  A.  P. 
Putnam,  president  of  the  Danvers 
Historical  Society,  was  present  and 
delivered  a lecture  on  “Our  Histori- 
cal Societies.” 

The  donations  to  the  cabinet  num- 
ber 22,  and  to  the  library  15.  These 
will  be  properly  acknowledged  in  the 
introductory  pages  of  the  historical 
collections. 


John  Hood  Gould,  an  honorary 
member,  died  Feb.  11,  1895,  and  in 
his  death  the  society  meets  with  a 
great  loss. 

The  membership  at  the  present 
time  is  ninety-four  and  in  this  con- 
nection I would  call  your  attention  to 
the  fact  that  every  additional  mem- 
bership fee,  small  as  it  may  seem, 
aids  the  society  in  its  work  and 
broadens  the  range  of  its  usefulness. 
We  need  a larger  membership.  We 
should  find  inscribed  on  our  rolls 
many  interested  in  our  work,  though 
non-residents  of  Topsfield.  The 
value  of  the  historical  collections 
might  be  held  up  as  an  inducement 
toward  an  increased  membership,  but 
in  any  case  let  each  member  propose 
one  new  name  during  the  coming 
year  and  by  so  doing  double  our  roll. 

I would  suggest  that  the  office  of 
curator  be  separated  from  that  of 
secretary  and  an  organized  effort  be 
made  toward  the  accumulation  of 
large  additions  to  our  cabinet  collec- 
tions. In  many  an  old  attic  in  town 
lie  buried  valuable  relics  of  a by- 
gone day,  and  with  the  acquisition  of 
closed  cabinets  each  member  should 
take  particular  pride  in  preserving 
for  the  society  these  various  objects, 
and  in  time  would  result  a collection 
that  fittingly  might  represent  the  his- 
toric life  of  our  town  from  the  ear- 
liest times. 

Respectfully  submitted. 

Geo.  Frs.  Dow, 

Secretary. 


TREASURER'S  REPORT. 

For  the  year  ending  Dec.  31st,  1895. 


IX 


Receipts. 

Annual  dues 

Geo.  L.  Gould,  donation 

$43.00 

2.00 

Expenditures. 
Printing  historical  col. 
Printing,  typewriting,  etc. 
Postal  cards 
j Record  books 
Warren  Blues’  equipments 
Rent  Town  hall 
Lecturer’s  expenses 

$16.50 

5.40 

10.70 

1.50 
7.00 

2.50 
1.10 

$45.00 

Balance  on  hand 

m 

CO  -1 

0 0 1 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Geo.  Frs.  Dow, 

Treasurer. 

Donations  for  year 

ending  Jan.  3, 

1896. 

Cabinet. 

Cummings,  Miss  Julia  A.,  Boxford — 
Arrow  head. 

Dodge,  Albert  M. — Cabinet  case  and 
collection  of  birds’  eggs  number- 
ing 116  varieties. 

Dow,  Eugene  M. — Battered  silver 
spoon  found  on  Price’s  Hill, 
monogram  B.  B.  H. 

Dow,  Geo.  Frs. — Spinning  wheel ; 
piece  of  live  oak  keel  of  H.  M.  j 
S.  Somerset,  wrecked  on  Cape  ! 
Cod  in  1779  ; two  Indian  arrow 
heads  ; stone  implement  used  for 
sharpening  Indian  tools  ; badge.  1 
Mass.  Society  Sons  of  Ameri- 1 
can  Revolution  ; badge,  Essex  i 
Co.  Rep.  Convention,  Salem,  ! 


Aug.  24,  1887 ; badge,  25th 

Natl.  Encampment  G.  A.  R., 
Detroit,  Mich.,  1891  ; framed 
portrait  of  Abraham  Lincoln. 

Gould,  John  H. — Hair  trunk  former- 
ly the  property  of  Jacob  Towne  ; 
ivory  headed  cane  formerly  the 
property  of  Jacob  Towne  ; green 
silk  umbrella  formerly  the  prop- 
erty of  Jacob  P.  Towne. 

Hutchings,  Mrs.  Esther  W. — Feather 
plume  worn  by  Jeremiah  Stone, 
M.  D.,  when  surgeon  of  the 
Topsfield  Warren  Blues  in  1836. 

Johnson,  Mrs.  Arthur — Brass  bar- 
relled pistol  picked  up  on  the 
battlefield  of  Stonington,  Conn. 

Kimball,  Paul  R. — Banner  of  the 


X 


Topstield  Fremont  and  Dayton 
Club,  1856. 

Pray,  Reuel  B. — Deck-light  from  U.  | 
S.  S.  8.  Mendota ; gavel  turned  | 
from  the  oaken  frame  of  the  old  j 
Israel  Gallup  house ; piece  of  j 
core  boring  from  the  largest  gun  j 
in  the  U.  S.  navy,  from  Wash- 
ington Navy  Yard,  1892. 

Stevens,  Albert  W. — Pieces  of  clay 
pipes  from  a chimney  founda- 
tion in  an  old  cellar  near  Crook- 
ed Pond  in  Boxford  ; (see  Per- 
ley's  dwellings  of  Boxford,  page  ! 
186);  two  ancient  iron  peat! 
forks ; piece  of  chestnut  wood  j 
excavated  from  the  pit  of  the ; 
Topstield  copper  mine  in  1840. 
having  been  buried  at  the  work-  | 
ing  of  the  mine  in  1771. 

Webster.  Albert — Indian  stone  axe. 

Welch,  Mrs.  Ellen  H.— Wooden’ 
tablet  inscribed  with  the  date  | 
1759,  formerly  fastened  to  the  j 
front  of  the  gallery  in  the  old  i 
meeting-house. 

Library. 

Averell,  Sidney  W. — Account  book 
and  ledger  of  David  Hobbs, 

1 774-94.  72  pages. 

Chandler,  James  H. — Newspaper, 
extra  number  of  Meriden, Conn., 
Republican,  Aug.  20,  1881,  con- 
taining account  of  life  and  death 
of  President  James  A.  Garfield. 


Davis,  Andrew  McF.,  Cambridge — 
Historical  work  in  Mass,  pamph. 
1898,  55  pp. 

Edwards,  Benj.  P. — Three  shares 
stock  of  Eastern  stage  companv. 

H aven,  Mrs.  Theodore  W. — News- 
paper, Salem  Gazette,  Mar.  28, 
1800 ; certificate  of  stock  in 
Topstield  Agricultural  Library, 
March  24,  1860;  newspaper, 

Columbian  Centinel,  Dec.  22, 
1810;  tax  collector’s  warrant, 
1778  ; receipt  for  Revolutionary 
service  July  11,  1776,  Andrew 
Gould. 

Johnson.  Mrs.  Arthur — Universal 
Geography  by  Rev.  Elijah  Par- 
rish, Newburyport,l808,  214  pp. 

Lake,  Henry  W. — Newspaper,  New- 
bury port  Herald,  Nov.  17,  1834, 
containing  account  of  political 
celebration  in  Topstield. 

Perley,  Sidney,  Salem — Newspapers. 
Salem  Gazette  Sept.  30,  1774 
aud  Oct  7.  1774. 

Poor.  Joseph  B.  — History  of  the 
emblem  of  the  codfish  in  the 
Hall  of  the  House  of  Represen- 
tatives, Boston,  1895,62  pp. 

Welch,  Mrs.  Ellen  H. — Catalogues 
of  Topstield  Academv  for  1840, 
1855,  1856. 

Geo.  Frs.  Dow, 

Curator. 


INTRODUCTORY  REMARKS  AT  THE  FIRST  REGULAR  MEET- 
ING OF  THE  TOPSFIELD  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY, 

JAN  4,  1895,  BY  THE  PRESIDENT,  JUSTIN 
ALLEN,  M.  D. 


It  seems  proper  on  an  occasion  like 
this,  when  a newly  organized  Historical 
society  is  about  to  enter  upon  its  appro- 
priate work,  that  it  should  glance  over 
the  field  to  be  occupied  and  touch  upon 
some  of  the  points  that  will  more  partic- 
ularly engage  its  attention. 

The  history  of  the  town  and  of  events 
having  relation  near  or  more  remote  to 
the  town  history  will  afford  an  ample 
field  for  our  study  and  investigation. 

We  need  not  be  content  with  com- 
mencing our  studies  with  the  first  settle- 
ment of  the  town  by  Europeans.  These 
hills  and  valleys  were  previously  inhabit- 
ed by  other  races  than  our  own,  who 
have  left  traces  of  their  occupancy.  A 
very  few  of  the  race  that  inhabited  this 
region  were  found  in  eastern  Massachu- 
setts when  the  first  European  emigrants 
arrived.  The  previous  generations  that 
occupied  this  locality  have  left  a meagre 
history  in  rude  implements  used  in  their 
peaceful  pursuits,  in  the  chase,  and  in 
war. 

There  is  a place  in  this  town  which 
from  the  many  pre-historic  relics  found 
there  is  called  the  “wigwam.”  There  is 
another  place  where  there  have  been 
found  irregular  pieces  of  flint,  and  flint 
chips.  The  material  was  doubtless 
brought  from  a distance  and  manufac- 
tured into  arrow-heads,  spear-heads,  and 
whatever  other  articles  the  needs  and 
ingenuity  of  the  residents  might  have 
devised.  This  is  strong  evidence  that 
the  aborigines  had  a permanent  residence 
here.  If  such  were  the  case  it  is  prob 
able  that  they  buried  their  dead  here 
also,  and  that  their  remains  lie  some- 
where in  the  soil  of  our  town.  I am  not 
aware  that  any  Indian  bones  have  been 
found  within  those  limits.  It  may  be 
reserved  for  a member  of  this  society  to 


unearth  a long  concealed  Indian  bury- 
ing-ground. 

The  town  records  afford  the  most  reli- 
able source  for  the  civil  history  of  the 
place,  as  an  incorporated  municipality. 
The  oldest  records  are  somewhat  diffi- 
cult to  read,  on  account  of  their  worn  and 
to  some  extent  illegible  condition,  as 
well  as  their  ancient  orthography  and 
quaint  chirography.  The  labor  of  de- 
ciphering and  transcribing  some  of  the 
more  difficult  portions  of  the  records  has 
been  undertaken  by  one  of  our  number, 
and  we  shall  know  more  from  the  records 
of  the  town  than  it  has  been  practicable 
to  know  heretofore. 

With  regard  to  anc’eut  landmarks  the 
location  of  the  residences  of  the  early 
inhabitants,  the  boundaries  of  farms  and 
early  grants,  and  the  elucidation  ol  many 
obscure  allusions  in  the  town  records, 
very  much  can  be  learned  by  a patient 
perusal  of  the  Registry  of  Deeds. 

Old  deeds  and  papers  that  have  with- 
stood the  waste  of  time  and  have  been 
preserved  in  many  of  the  old  families 
will  often  give  a clew  to  the  establish- 
ment of  important  facts.  The  same  may 
be  said  of  such  topics  as  the  history  of 
old  houses,  old  cellars,  and  the  location 
of  old  roads.  Contemporary  with  the 
town  records  is  the  ecclesiastical  history 
of  the  town.  Church  records,  memoran- 
da kept  by  the  ministers  and  others  are 
important  in  throwing  light  upon  all 
matters  relatiug  to  the  religious  life  of 
the  people.  They  are  also  valuable  in  a 
genealogical  point  of  view.  Obscure 
points  in  family  history  may  be  cleared 
up  which  would  otherwise  remain  doubt- 
ful or  unknown. 

Events  of  wider  interest  connected 
with  the  history  of  the  state  of  New 
England  and  of  the  United  States,  having 


a bearing  upon  our  town  history,  will 
furnish  topics  for  investigation  and  dis- 
cussion. The  people  of  Topsfleld  from 
the  earliest  period  of  its  history,  whether 
acting  as  an  incorporated  body  or  each 
in  his  individual  capacity,  have  borne  an 
honorable  part  in  whatever  relations 
they  have  been  called  upon  to  act,  and 
have  an  honorable  record  in  civil,  mili- 
tary, religious,  educational  and  literary 
life. 

Whatever  is  learned  of  the  social  life 
of  our  ancestors  is  of  especial  importance 
as  throwing  light  upon  their  various 
characteristics.  It  is  here  that  histori- 
cal records  are  deficient.  If  we  could 
have  detailed  accounts  of  their  every- 
day life,  their  conversations,  their  daily 
intercourse  with  their  neighbors  and 
friends,  the  routine  of  their  Sabbath  ob- 
servations, their  social  gatherings  as 
far  as  they  had  any  full  records,  of  their 
church  meetings  and  town  meetings, 
their  domestic  life,  their  habits  upon 
their  "arras  and  in  their  houses,  their 
meals,  their  religious  observances,  the 
government  of  their  households,  the  ed- 
ucation of  their  children,  such  minute 
accounts  would  be  worth  more  than  a 
whole  volume  of  history  as  it  is  usually 
written. 

It  will  be  the  aim  of  the  society  to 
encourage  and  promote  the  study  of 
natural  history.  A scientific  knowledge 
of  natural  objects  is  not  only  desirable 
but  highly  useful.  It  has  been  too  much 
neglected.  Perhaps  the  neglect  is  large- 
ly due  to  the  difficulty  of  making  a be- 


ginning and  getting  a good  start  in  the 
pursuit  in  question.  When  one  has 
taken  up  the  subject  and  has  become 
interested,  it  is  easy  to  keep  on  in  one’s 
investigations  and  add  greatly  to  one’s 
knowledge.  Many  who  take  up  the 
study  of  the  natural  sciences  become 
fascinated  by  them.  In  the  department 
of  zoology  there  is  one  branch,  entomol- 
ogy, that  ought  to  command  our  special 
attention.  If  more  were  known  by  the 
owners  of  our  orchards  of  the  habits 
of  the  canKer  worm,  more  might  be  done 
and  more  successfully  to  prevent  the 
ravages  of  that  pest  of  the  apple  trees. 

The  same  might  be  said  of  other  in- 
sects injurious  to  vegetation;  as  the 
apple-tree  borer,  the  caterpillar,  the  cur- 
rant worm,  the  squash  bug,  the  corn 
worm,  the  Colorado  beetle,  et  id  omne 
genus. 

The  care  and  management  of  domestic 
animals  and  their  diseases  is  a subject 
that  is  uppermost  in  people’s  minds  at 
the  present  time  and  well  deserves  their 
investigation  and  study. 

Botany  and  mineralogy  will  also  come 
in  for  a share  of  our  attention. 

Some  of  the  members  have  given  spec- 
ial attention  to  natural  history  and  will 
no  doubt  favor  the  society  with  papers 
from  time  to  time  that  will  be  interest- 
ing and  instructive. 

After  all,  the  most  important  object  of 
our  work  will  be  the  study  of  the  gener- 
ations that  have  preceded  us,  to  improve 
upon  our  ancestors,  and  profit  thereby. 


Gov.  Bradstrkkt’s  House  in  North  Andover. 
Erected  in  1067. 


3 


ANNE  BRADSTREET. 

HER  LIFE  AND  WORKS 

BY  METTA  BRADSTREET. 


Anne  Bradstreet,  noted  as  the  earliest 
female  poet  io  America,  was  the  daugh 
ter  of  Thomas  Dudley  aud  wife  of  Simon 
Bradstreet,  two  of  the  founders  and  early 
governors  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay 
Colony. 

The  ancestry  of  that  branch  of  the 
Dudley  family  to  which  Madam  Brad- 
street belonged  is  simply  a matter  of 
conjecture.  Extensive  researches  have 
failed  to  prove  the  connection  with  John 
Dudley  Duke  of  Northumberland,  which 
several  of  the  Dudley  descendants  claim. 

Her  father,  Thomas  Dudley,  was  born 
in  Lincolnshire,  Eng.,  in  1576  or  ’77  and 
was  the  onlv  son  of  Captain  Roger  Dud- 
ley who  fell  io  battle  in  1586.  Thomas 
wa3  taken  from  school  at  an  early  age 
and  became  a page  io  the  family  of  Lord 
Compton.  After  this  he  served  as  a 
lawyer’s  clerk,  and  then  we  find  him  at 
the  head  of  a body  of  eighteen  volun- 
teers, part  of  a force  collected  by  Eliza- 
beth to  aid  the  French  king.  From  these 
various  occupations  he  derived  consider- 
able legal  skill,  straightforwardness, 
honesty  and  courage.  Under  the  preach- 
ing of  the  famous  Puritan  minister, 
Dodd,  he  became  a Nonconformist  and 
ever  alter  adhered  strictly  to  the  views 
which  he  adopted. 

For  several  years  Dudley  was  steward 
of  the  Earl  of  Lincoln's  estate,  then  he 
removed  to  B >stou,  Lincolnshire,  where  j 
he  became  acquainted  with  Rev.  John 
Cotton,  his  afterward  companion  in  the 
New  World.  His  wife,  Dorothy,  is 
spoken  of  in  the  record  of  their  marriage 
as  a “Gentlewoman  whole  Extract  and 
Eftate  were  Confiderable.”  Anne  was 
their  second  child,  born  io  1612,  probably 
at  Northampton.  Of  her  early  youth  and 
bringing  up  we  know  but  little.  She 
was  evidently  religiously  and  strictly 
trained  and  from  her  works  it  is  plain 
that  she  had  read  and  studied  with  unus- 
ual diligence  for  one  of  her  aae  and  sex. 
At  this  time  she  had  a rich  field  of  study. 


The  quarter  of  a century  preceding  the 
departure  of  the  Mass.  Bay  Company 
was  one  of  the* most  glorious  in  the  his- 
tory of  English  literature.  New  books 
were  appearing  it  unwonted  numbers. 
Spenser,  Sidney,  Shakespeare,  and  Cer- 
vantes had  recently  died  leaving  choice 
additions  to  the  literature  of  the  world. 

In  this  period  of  literary  activity  Mad- 
am Bradstreet  passed  the  first  eighteen 
years  of  her  life.  With  literary  tastes 
her  surroundings  during  this  lime  were 
such  as  to  create  and  satisfy  a desire  for 
poetical  and  historical  studies.  Of  her 
mother,  who  died  in  1643  at  the  age  ol 
61,  little  is  known,  not  even  her  maiden 
name.  In  an  epitaph  to  her,  her  daugh- 
ter says  : 

“A  worthy  matron  of  unspotted  life, 

A loving  mother,  and  obedient  wife” — 
and  farther  on  in  the  poem, 

“A  true  instructor  of  her  family 
The  which  she  ordered  with  dexterity.” 
Her  father,  too,  seems  to  have  taken 
especial  pains  in  instructing  this  daugh- 
ter if  we  may  judge  from  what  she  says 
of  him  : 

“He  was  my  father,  guide,  instructor  too, 
And  who  more  cause  to  boast  his  worth 
than  I, 

Who  heard,  or  saw,  observed,  or  knew 
him  better. 

And  who  alive,  than  I,  a greater  debtor.” 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  she  was  married 
lo  Simon  Bradstreet,  the  son  of  a Non- 
conformist minister  of  Lincolnshire. 
Bradstreet  was  born  at  Horbling,  March, 
1603.  He  was  educated  at  the  grammar 
school  uutil  he  was  fourteen,  when  his 
father’s  death  made  it  necessary  for  him 
to  leave.  He  was  taken  into  the  family 
of  the  Earl  of  Lincolu  under  the  care  of 
Dudley.  He  was  at  Emmanuel  College 
one  year,  having  had,  as  he  himself  wrote, 
“a  very  pleasant  but  unprofitable  time  in 
the  society  of  the  Earl  of  Lincoln’s  broth- 


4 


er  and  other  companions.”  Notwith- 
standing this  he  became  a good  scholar, 
taking  his  bachelor’s  degree  in  1620  and 
his  master’s  four  years  later.  On  Dud- 
ley’s removal  to  Lincolnshire  he  became 
steward  in  his  place  managing  the  estate 
with  equal  skill,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
marriage  he  held  the  same  position  to 
the  aged  Countess  of  Warwick. 

Religious  and  political  affairs  in  Eng- 
land being  in  a bad  state  and  boding  ill 
for  the  future,  on  June  26th,  1629.  Dud- 
ley with  eleven  others  signed  an  agree- 
ment whereby  they  pledged  themselves 
to  remove  with  their  tamilies  to  New 
England  by  the  first  of  the  next  March, 
provided  the  whole  government,  together 
with  the  patent,  should  be  legally  trans- 
ferred belore  the  last  of  September  to 
remain  with  such  plantation.  Although 
Dudley  had  from  1627  been  interested  in 
the  planting  of  a colony  he  evidently  had 
no  connection  with  the  company  till  Oct. 
15,  1629.  Ou  that  day  he  and  Winthrop 
were  first  present  at  a meeting.  On  Oct. 
20,  Dudlev  was  chosen  an  assistant,  and 
ou  Mar.  18,  Bradstreet  was  elected  to  the 
same  office.  From  that  time  they  devot- 
ed their  lives  to  the  interests  of  the  com- 
pany. holding  various  high  offices,  and 
had  at  times  committed  to  them  the 
arrangement  of  business  of  vital  conse 
quence  to  the  Colony.  Ou  board  the 
“Arbella,”  Mar.  23a,  Dudley  was  chosen 
Deputy-Governor  in  place  of  Mr.  John 
Humphrey,  who  was  to  stay  behind  in 
England. 

On  Monday,  March  23d,  the  little  band 
of  Puritans  s^t  sail  in  their  four  small 
vessels,  the  “Arbella,”  “Talbot,”  “Am- 
brose,” “Jewell.”  Most  of  the  prominent 
people  were  on  the  “Arbella.”  Among 
them  were  Isaac  Johnson  and  his  wife, 
the  delicate  Lady  Arbella;  and  here,  too, 
was  the  governor,  John  Winthrop.  With 
them,  without  doubt,  were  Mrs.  Brad- 
street,  her  father,  mother  and  husband. 
“From  April  6th  till  June  12th  they  did 
not  again  set  foot  on  dry  land  and  then 
it  was  to  tread  the  soil  of  the  New 
World.”  They  had  a long,  cold,  rainy 
voyage,  thediearinessof  which  they  tried 
to  cheer  by  preaching,  singing,  lasts  and 
thanksgiving.  Small  wonder,  that  the 
heart  of  our  poetess  thus  called  upon  to 


leave  her  native  country  with  its  many 
attractions,  and  her  pleasant  home  with 
its  dear  associations,  rebelled  for  a while 
at  the  desolate,  even  dangerous  prospect 
before  her.  On  the  seventy-second  day 
of  their  voyage  the  homesick,  sea-worn 
travellers  came  in  sight  of  the 
rocky  but  welcome  shores  of  Mt.  Desert. 
“We  had  now,  fair  sunshine  weather  and 
so  pleasant  a sweet  air  as  did  much 
refresh  us,  and  there  came  a smell  off  the 
shore  like  the  smell  of  a garden,”  writes 
Winthrop. 

They  landed  at  Salem,  then  after  ex- 
ploring the  Charles  and  Mystic  Rivers 
they  brought  their  goods  to  Charlestown 
and  here  made  a settlement  of  fifteen 
hundred  people.  The  colony  here  was 
brokeu  up  because  of  lack  of  running 
water,  general  sickness,  etc.,  and  they 
went  for  a while  to  Boston  across  the 
river.  In  December,  1630,  they  decided 
upon  Cambridge  (then  called  Newtown) 
as  a good  location  for  their  colony.  Here 
Dudley  and  Bradstreet  both  resided,  the 
former’s  house  standing  at  the  corner  of 
the  present  Dunster  and  South  Streets. 
BradstreH’s  stood  near  the  colleges,  on 
the  spot  where  the  University  Bookstore 
of  Messrs.  Sever  and  Francis  on  Harvard 
Square,  now  is.  Here  Madam  Brad- 
street’s  first  poem  was  written  in  1632, 
at  the  age  of  19,  “Upon  a Fit  of  Sick- 
nefs.” 

In  1635,  Dudley  and  Bradstreet  are 
found  enrolled  among  the  inhabitants  of 
Ipswich.  There  they  continued  from 
1635  to  nearly  1644.  Mrs.  Bradstreet 
mentions  her  residing  there,  but  we  have 
no  particulars  respecting  her  stay  in  that 
town.  One  of  her  long  poems,  “A  Dia- 
logue between  Old  England  and  New,” 
was  written  there. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1634  or  ’5,  we 
have  this  record  : “It  is  ordered  that  the 
land  aboute  Cocbichowicke  shall  be  re- 
served for  an  inland  plantation,”  etc. 
This  is  the  first  mention  of  what  was 
afterward  the  town  of  Andover.  The 
early  settlements  were  made  in  that  part 
near  Cochichowick  Brook,  now  known  as 
North  Andover.  To  this  settlement 
come  Simon  Bradstreet  and  his  wife 
sometime  previous  to  1644.  Here  Madam 
Bradstreet  lived  a busy,  useful  life,  her 


5 


time  fully  occupied  by  the  cares  of  her 
family,  attendance  on  religious  meetings, 
and  other  duties  incumbent  upon  her  as 
the  wife  of  a popular  magistrate.  Her 
husband,  too,  was  often  absent  from 
home  for  long  periods,  intent  upon  the 
business  of  the  colony,  once  even  return- 
ing to  England.  Those  were  times  of 
great  gloom  and  hardship  to  our  poetess, 
as  the  letters  written  to  her  husband  at 
those  periods  will  show.  The  time 
which  she  spent  in  verse-making  was 
curtailed  from  her  sleep  and  other  re- 
freshments. The  house  which  they 
occupied  there  was  burned  to  the  ground 
July  10th,  1666.  Many  of  her  books  and 
valuable  manuscripts  were  thus  destr  oyed 
among  them  them  the  closing  part  of  her 
poem,  “The  Foui  Monarchies,”  on  which 
she  had  spent  much  time  and  labor.  The 
accident  was  so  discouraging  that  she 
had  no  heart  to  proceed  further,  and  left 
the  poem  forever  unfinished. 

Not  far  from  the  site  of  the  first  meet- 
ing-honse  of  Andover  is  a large,  old- 
fashioned  house,  the  oldest  in  the  place. 
It  has  always  been  believed  in  the  town 
that  this  was  the  Goveinor’s  house,  built 
to  take  the  place  of  that  burned,  and  its 
size,  solidity  of  construction  and  posi- 
tion tend  to  strengthen  the  belief.  If  so 
Madam  Bradstreet  must  have  lived  in  it 
a few  years,  as  she  did  not  die  till  1672, 
six  years  after  the  fire,  and  then  in  Ando- 
ver. The  house  was  later  known  to  be 
the  residence  of  their  son  Dudley.  It 
stauds  on  the  old  Haverhill  and  Boston 
road,  within  a few  feet  ol  the  way,  and 
has  a southerly  aspect.  It  has  two  full 
stories  in  front  but  sloped  to  a single  one 
in  the  rear.  The  doors  are  small  and 
low.  The  frame  of  the  house  is  very 
heavy  with  massive  old  timbers;  an 
immense  chimney  runs  up  in  the  centre. 

Mrs.  Bradstreet  had  eight  children. 
First,  Samuel,  who  was  educated  at 
Harvard  College  and  practiced  as  a phy- 
sician in  Boston  for  many  years,  died  in 
the  island  of  Jamaica  where  he  had  re- 
moved. Second,  Dorothy,  who  married 
the  Rev.  Seaborn  Cotton,  eldest  son  of 
the  Rev.  John  Cotton  of  Boston.  Third, 
Sarah,  who  married  Richard  Hubbard  at 
Ipswich,  brother  of  the  Rev.  Wm.  Hub- 
bard, the  historian.  After  his  death, 


she  married  Maj.  Samuel  Ward  of  Mar- 
blehead. Fourth,  Simon,  also  educated 
at  Harvard,  and  ordained  pastor  of  the 
church  at  New  London,  Conn.,  in  1670. 
Fifth,  Hannah,  married  Andrew  Wiggin 
of  Exeter,  N.  H.  Sixth,  Mercy,  married 
Maj.  Nathaniel  Wade  of  Medford. 
Seventh,  Dudley,  who  resided  in  Ando- 
ver, holding  several  important  offices  in 
the  town.  During  the  witch-craft  delu- 
sion he,  as  magistrate,  granted  thirty  or 
forty  warrants  for  the  apprehension  and 
imprisonment  of  the  supposed  witches, 
but  refusing  to  grant  more  he  fell  him- 
self a victim  to  the  same  charge  and  was 
obliged  to  secrete  himself  for  a while. 
He  died  in  1702,  having  wou  the  love  and 
confidence  of  his  fellow  townsmen. 
Eighth,  John,  boru  in  Andover  1652  and 
resided  in  Topsfield  on  Governor  Brad- 
street’s  grant  of  land  in  the  eastern  part 
of  the  town.  He  married  Sarah,  daugh 
ter  of  Rev.  William  Perkins  of  this  town. 
They  had  five  children.  He  died  in  Tops- 
tieid,  Jan.  11,  1718. 

All  but  one  daughter,  Dorothy,  were 
living  at  ihe  time  of  Madam  Bradstreet’s 
death  in  1672,  at  the  age  of  sixiy.  Her 
burial-place  is  unknown.  No  stone  bear- 
ing her  name  can  be  found  in  ihe  old 
burying  ground  at  Andover.  It  is  prob- 
able that  her  remains  weie  deposited  in 
her  father’s  tomb  in  Roxbury.  It  is  also 
unfortunate  that  there  is  no  poitrait  of 
her  in  existence.  Four  years  after  her 
death,  her  husband  married  again,  this 
time  to  the  widow  of  Capt.  Joseph  Gard- 
ner of  Salem,  and  daughter  of  Emmanuel 
Downing 

Anne  Bradstreet’s  descendants  have 
been  numerous  and  many  have  achieved 
fame  in  the  world  of  letters.  Some  of 
the  most  noted  are,  her  grandson.  Rev. 
Simon  Bradstreet,  who  though  eccentric, 
was  one  of  the  most  learned  men  of  his 
day.  Dr.  William  Ellery  Ohanning,  the 
celebrated  divine.  Rev.  Joseph  Buck- 
miuster  of  Poitsmouth  and  his  sou. 
Richard  H.  Dana,  the  poet,  and  the  Hon. 
Richard  H.  Dana,  Jr  , eminent  as  a man 
ot  letters  and  lawyer.  Doctor  Oliver 
Wendell  Holmes,  poet  and  humorist. 
Mr.  Wendell  Phillips,  the  orator. 

Mis.  Bradstreet’s  poems  show  that  she 
had  been  a faithful  student  of  history,  an 


6 


assiduous  reader  aod  a keen  observer  of 
nature  and  of  what  was  taking  place  both 
at  home  and  abroad.  Her  familiarity 
with  the  Bible  is  apparent  all  through 
her  writings.  Du  Bartas,  a French  poet 
whose  works  were  regarded  with  much 
favor  by  the  Puritans,  was  her  favorite 
author.  The  general -idea  of  her  longer 
poems  may  have  been  suggested  by  a 
study  of  his  works.  Sir  Philip  SidQey, 
writer,  poet,  and  soldier,  was  another 
favorite,  as  her  eulogy  on  him  will  >how. 

Although  Madam  Bradstreet’s  works 
may  be  greatly  inferior  to  what  women 
since  her  day  have  accomplished,  up  to 
that  time  no  poet  of  her  sex  in  Europe 
had  written  anything  of  equal  literary 
merit.  She  was  a loving  wife  and  a ten- 
der mother.  Her  children  were  constant- 
ly on  her  mind.  Prompted  by  her  love 
for  them  she  wrote  out  her  religious  ex- 
periences in  a little  book,  in  which  she 
also  kept  a record  of  sickness,  religion, 
etc.  The  book  is  thus  dedicated  : 

“To  my  dear  children  : — 

This  book  by  any  yet  unread, 

I leave  for  you  when  I am  dead  ; 

That  being  gone  here  you  may  And 
What  was  your  living  mother’s  mind. 
Make  use  of  what  I leave  in  love, 

And  God  sh.'ll  bless  you  from  above.” 

From  some  of  her  poems  it  appears 
that  she  must  have  loved  to  wander  in 
the  woods  and  fields  and  have  found 
there  the  companionship  which  she 
missed  elsewhere.  Her  constant  study- 
ing and  writing  had  evidently  exposed 
her  to  the  criticism  of  her  neighbors. 
The  fact  of  a woman’s  being  able  to  com- 
pose anything  of  any  merit  was  then  re- 
garded with  the  greatest  surprise  and 
disdain.  Despite  the  danger  from  wild 
beasts  which  inhabited  the  woods,  and 
the  Indians  whose  assaults  were  a con 
stant  dread,  she  continued  to  visit  field 
and  forest,  meditating  on  their  winning 
charms  and  grand  and  silent  beauty: 
and  to  ramble  along  the  banks  of  her 
loved  Merrimac,  where  many  of  her 
poems  were  composed.  The  graceful 
beauty  of  one  of  these,  her  “Contempla- 
tions,” leads  us  to  wish  that  she  had  spent 
less  time  over  her  histories  and  sought 
more  often  the  fair  face  of  nature.  This 


one  poem  proves  lier  more  truly  a poet 
than  the  many  others  which  she  wrote. 
All  the  poems  in  the  first  edition  of  her 
works  were  written  before  she  was  thirty, 
though  they  were  not  published  until 
1650  and  then  without  her  consent  or 
knowledge.  The  later  editions  contain 
several  poems  found  among  her  papers 
at  her  death  and  which  seem  uot  intended 
for  publication.  Having  had  from  birth 
a very  delicate  constitution  and  through 
life  many  sicknesses,  fevers,  etc.,  she 
boie  all  with  meekness  and  resignation. 
In  spite  of  her  feeble  health  she  con- 
tinued to  write  till  near  the  date  of  her 
death. 

In  1647,  Rev.  John  Woodbridge,  her 
sister  Mercy’s  husband,  sailed  lor  Eng- 
land, taking  with  him  the  manuscript 
poems  of  our  author.  These  he  had 
published  in  London  in  1650  under  the 
title  of  “The  Tenth  Mule  Lately  fprung 
up  in  America.  Or  Severall  Poems, 
compiled  with  great  variety  of  Wit  and 

Learning, By  a Gentlewoman  in  thofe 

parts.”  They  were  introduced  to  the 
reader  in  a short  preface  in  which  the 
author  is  described  as  “a  Woman,  hon- 
I oured  and  efteemed  where  fhe  lives,  for 
{ her  gracious  demeanour,  her  eminent 
parts,  her  pious  converfation,  her  cour- 
1 teous  deposition,  her  exact  diligence  in 
| her  place,  and  difcreet  managing  of  her 
family.”  He  also  adds  : “Ifeaiethe  dif- 
pleasure  of  no  perfon  in  the  publifning  of 
thefs  Poems  but  the  Author’s,  without 
whofe  knowledge  and  contrary  to  her 
expectations  I have  prefumed  to  bring  to 
publick  view  what  Ihe  refolved  fhould 
never  in  fuch  manner  fee  the  Sun.”  The 
poems  were  most  extravagantly  praised 
ou  their  appearance  by  Rev.  N.  Ward, 
Cotton  Mather,  Rev.  Benj.  Woodbridge, 
President  Rogers  of  Harvard  University, 
and  others. 

On  the  merits  of  her  productions  I will 
say  but  little,  leaving  the  listener  as  judge 
i for  himself.  One  can  hardly  expect  that 
after  “twice  drinking  the  Dectar  of  her 
lines”  you  will  “welter  in  delight”  like 
her  enthusiastic  critic,  Pres.  Rogers. 
Even  if  they  do  not  show  much  pot  tic 
genius,  they,  are  certainly  remarkable 
when  we  consider  the  time,  place,  and 
circumstances  under  which  they  were 


written.  She  must  have  been  a brave 
siuger  who  could  find  heart  for  soDg 
amid  the  danger  and  hardships  incident 
upon  life  in  the  New  World  at  that  time. 
Her  poems  are  quaint  and  curious.  They 
contain  beautiful  and  original  thoughts, 
some  of  which  are  not  badly  expressed 
and  they  lorm  an  odd  and  valuable  relic 
of  the  earliest  literature  of  our  country. 
The  listener  must  bear  in  mind  that  no 
congenial  and  gifted  minds  were  near  to 


cheer  or  inspire  her,  no  circle  of  brilliant 
wits  to  sharpeu  and  brighten  her  intel- 
lect. She  had  no  beautiful  environments, 
no  famous  works  of  art  to  elevate  or 
direct  her  taste,  but  the  country  was  a 
barren  wilderness,  destitute  of  all  poeti- 
cal associations.  Life  was  then  a series 
of  hard,  obstinate  facts,  and  the  people 
among  whom  our  songstress  was  called 
to  dwell  were  the  last  in  the  world  to 
encourage  or  appreciate  a poet. 


Tbe  Burning  0f  Rea  Tavern,  Tep&field, 
October,  1536. 

A paper  prepared  by  Mrs.  T.  K.  Leach  and  read  before  the  Topsfield  Historical 
Society,  Friday  evening,  April  5tb,  1895. 


In  the  year  1836,  Mr.  Leach  and  myself 
were  married  aDd  came  to  Topsfield  the 
second  day  of  May.  We  moved  into  Mr. 
Fred  Perley’s  new  house,  the  one  owned 
by  Mr.  Andrew  Gould  today.  In  the 
house  lived  four  families;  in  the  upper 
tenements  lived  the  families  of  Nehemiah 
Balch  and  Joseph  Lovett,  and  Dea.  John 
Wright,  aud  our  family  occupied  the  low- 
er floor.  Mr.  John  Wright  manufactured 
shoes  and  employed  mauy  men,  some  of 
whom  he  boarded  In  his  own  family.  Of 
the  many  who  lived  in  the  house  at  that 
time,  I know  ol  but  two  besides  myself 
who  ate  alive  today,  Mr.  David  Adams  of 
Lynu,  and  Mr.  Nehemiah  Balch’s  sou 
Charles  of  Lowell,  who  was  a mere  child 
three  years  old,  at  that  time.  On  the 
opposite  side  of  the  street  from  which 
we  lived,  stood  the  Rea  tavern,  which 
was  a large  two-story  square  house,  a 
barn  or  stable  owned  by  Mr.  John  Rea, 
aud  a two-story  building,  which  was 
occupied  by  the  firm  o'  Herrick  & Perkins 
(Charles  Herrick  & Amos  Perkius)  in  the 
manufacture  of  shoes. 

At  the  time  of  which  I write,  we  were 
all  youug  and  lull  of  life,  and  the  calls 
we  made  on  one  another  were  numerous 
aud  not  very  ceremonious.  I often  ran 


across  the  street  to  see  Eliza  Bradstreet, 
the  house-keeper  of  Mr.  John  Rea,  and 
Betsey  Gould,  the  maid  servant,  who 
afterwards  became  Mrs.  Samuel  Adams. 
As  Mr.  Rea  was  a widower  and  Eliza  his 
house  keeper,  we  often  joked  with  Eliza 
at  the  prospect  of  her  becoming  Mrs. 
Rea,  which  Eliza  would  promptly  resent. 
Betsey  was  not  slow,  and  with  what  aid 
I could  give  her,  we  made  the  tavein 
ring  with  laughter  and  mirth. 

Now,  about  the  fire  which  consumed 
the  tavein,  stable  aud  sfioe  factory,  in 
the  fall  of  the  year  1836.  I was  awaken- 
ed one  Monday  morning  in  October, 
about  one  o’clock,  by  a noise,  arousing 
my  husband,  who  sprang  up  and  looking 
out  of  the  window,  said,  ‘-We  are  all 
afire,’'  I asked  him  if  I had  time  to  dress, 
aud  he  said,  “It  is  Rea’s,”  aud  gave  the 
alaim  in  the  house,  which  was  alive 
instantly.  I went  to  the  front  room  and 
looked  out,  and  the  flames  weie  just 
bursting  out  of  the  Northwest  end  of 
the  taveru,  and  no  one  was  astir  but  the 
hostler,  Joseph  Hastings,  who  was  in 
the  act  of  leading  out  one  of  the  horses. 
Mr.  Rea  had  two,  both  of  which  were  led 
out,  but  one  rushed  back  aud  peiished. 

Mr.  Hastings  slept  in  the  attic  or  the 


8 


tavern  next  to  the  barn,  and  being  sud- 
denly awakened  spang  from  his  bed  and 
rushed  down  stairs  and  in  his  descent 
his  first  impulse  was  to  awaken  the 
inmates.  Opening  the  door  of  a side 
room  occupied  by  Mr.  Rea’s  brother’s 
family  to  give  the  alarm,  he  was  si  rpris- 
ed  to  see  Mr.  Rea  dressed  in  his  Sunday 
clothes,  with  that  huge  black  hreasi  pin 
od,  of  which  so  much  was  said  in  ihe 
trial  which  followed,  a dress  which 
people  remarked  about  as  hardly  fitting 
in  which  to  fight  a fire.  Mrs.  Rea  was 
dressed  in  a flannel  night  gown,  a gar- 
ment which  her  husband,  who  said  he 
could  not  tell  what  would  happen  before 
morning,  had  advised  her  to  wear.  This 
was  testified  to  by  Mrs.  Charles  H. 
Holmes  iu  the  court,  being  so  informed 
by  Mrs.  Rea.  Mr.  Rea  had  packed  his 
trunk,  which  he  look  up  to  Mr.  Moses 
Wildes’  house,  and  threw  into  the 
window  by  the  end  door.  Mr.  Hastings 
then  opened  the  door  to  Eliza’s  room  ; 
she  was  fast  asleep  with  Mr.  Rea’s  little 
son. 

In  no  time  the  whole  village  was 
aroused,  and  a man  was  despatched  on 
horse  back  to  Salem  for  an  engine  and 
ladders,  which  came  with  all  due  speed. 
The  engine  was  attached  to  the  town 
well  (t  e one  in  use  today,)  and  strange 
to  say,  it  never  sucked  air  but  once. 
Rev.  McEwen  stood  guard  over  the  well, 
that  no  water  should  be  wasted.  Mr. 
Samuel  Gould’s  two  wells  and  Capt. 
Munday's  one  supplitd  all  the  water  used 
at  the  fiie. 

The  house  in  which  we  lived  was  in 
constant  peril,  aud  the  manner  in  which 
we  saved  it  was  by  carrying  tubs  ol 
water  to  the  attic  and  taking  the  clothes 
stripped  from  the  bed,  putting  them  into 
the  tubs,  and  laying  them  thoroughly 
saturated  with  water  on  the  roof  and 
keeping  them  so  until  the  engine  arrived 
from  Salem. 

Mr.  Perley’s  other  house  (now  Mr  J. 
B.  Poor’s)  was  used  by  Mr.  Perley’s 
brother  Nat  and  himself  as  a variety 
store;  it  was  filled  with  goods,  and  in 
his  anxiety  to  save  it,  Nat,  who  went  to 
the  roof  for  that  purpose,  slipped  and 
fell  to  the  L,  injuring  himself  seriously. 

Mr.  Benjamin  Kimball  had  nearly  fin- 


ished his  house,  and  with  shavings  and 
boards  lying  around  the  ground  it  seemed 
almost  sure  of  destruction,  but  the  time- 
ly arrival  of  the  engine  and  ladders, 
which  brought  a large  number  of  canvas 
sails,  saved  that  and  the  other  building. 

W hen  I came  from  the  attic  after  assist- 
Ing  in  wetting  the  blankets,  I met  Mr. 
Perley  at  the  foot  of  the  stairs;  he  said 
that  we  must  clear  the  house  as  it  was 
sure  to  go,  we  could  not  save  it.  I com- 
menced to  pack;  I took  a very  large  band 
box,  (large  enough  to  hold  a dozen  bon- 
nets like  those  worn  now  a-days)  and 
put  into  it.  my  dinner-set,  comprising  two 
dozen  cups  and  saucers,  milk  pitcher, 
sugar  bowl,  two  dozen  plates,  glass  cup- 
plaies,  and  preserve  dishes,  lhat  filled 
the  box.  This  I did  in  my  parlor,  and 
took  them  to  the  outer  door.  Then  some- 
body said,  “Here,  Mrs.  Leach,  let  me 
take  the  basket.”  Of  this  I was  thankful, 
it  was  so  heavy.  The  man  carried  it  to 
Mr.  Benjamin  Kimball’s  land,  and  just  as 
he  was  in  the  act  of  setting  it  down,  out 
came  the  bottom  of  the  box.  I was  fort- 
unate in  this  accident,  as  but  two  glass 
dishes  were  broken,  a fact  which  I dis- 
covered when  I went  to  get  them  after 
the  danger  from  the  fire  had  passed.  I 
was  thoroughly  sui prised,  however,  to 
find  lhat  I could  not  lift  the  box,  try  as 
hard  as  I could,  when  I attempted  to 
take  it  into  the  bouse.  We  got  it  back 
ai  last,  aud  as  they  were  bringing  it  in,  a 
tei  r i Vile  cra>h  came.  I thought  my  dishes 
had  gone  at  last,  but  it  happened  to  be 
the  ladder  that  went  through  the  window 
as  they  were  taking  them  hom  the  bouse. 

Many  amusing  things  occurred  while 
we  were  preparing  to  leave  the  house.  I 
wanted  to  save  my  milk  pitcher,  so  turned 
the  milk  which  it  contained  on  the  floor. 
Mis.  Balch,  iu  saving  her  linen,  tied  it 
up  in  a sheet,  and  her  camphor-bottle 
she  emptied  into  the  siDk,  and  the  odor 
of  camphor  was  piesent  with  us  long 
after  the  fire.  I looked  for  my  wedding- 
dress,  which  was  a lavender  silk,  and 
found  it  in  the  wood-basket,  and  a rug 
tucked  into  a bureau  drawer. 

So  after  the  fire, as  in  allcountry  towns, 
things  quieted  down  and  we  thought  but 
little  ahoui  it  till  the  next  Sunday  morn- 
ing, when  my  husband  came  in  and  said, 


9 


‘‘Two  men  were  hung  last  night  on  the 
sign-post.”  I had  another  scare,  but  he 
laughed  and  added,  “only  in  effigy.”  I 
went  to  the  front  window  and  sure 
enough,  there  hung  what  appeared  to  be 
two  men ; one  had  on  a breast  pin  made 
of  leather,  which  was  conspicuous  by  its 
immensity.  Our  good  raau  Samuel 
Hood,  learning  of  this,  and  as  it  was  our 
good  old  New  England  Sabbath  when  all 
were  expected  to  go  to  church,  hurried 
to  the  scene  with  ladder  in  hand,  and 
soon  brought  them  to  the  ground,  and 
laid  them  away.  Other  eyes  saw  this, 
and  when  the  opportunity  came,  as  it  did 
after  the  people  were  in  church,  brought 
out  the  deposed  effigies,  and  laid  them 
across  the  wall  that  fronted  the  burnt 
district. 

Of  course  the  fire  was  the  one  them*' 
talked  about  for  a long  time,  aud  it 
leaked  out  that  Rea  found  a letter  threat- 
ening him  if  he  continued  his  visits  to 
see  Ann  Sawyer,  thathis  buildings  would 
be  burnt  over  his  head.  He  said  that  he 
picked  the  letter  ap  on  returning  from 
one  of  his  visits  to  the  lady,  and  that  he 
also  knew  who  wrote  it.  People  remarked 
very  generally  that  it  was  high  time  such 
folks  were  brought  to  justice,  and  if  he 
or  his  brother  Samuel  knew  who  it  was 
that  did  such  a thing,  he  should  be 
brought  out  in  a trial  It  became  so  un- 
comfortable for  those  immediately  inter 
ested  that  a warrant  was  sworn  out.  and 
Eliza  Bradstreet  was  arrested  by  Sheriff 
Sprague  of  Salem  on  a charge  of  arson. 
Pars  m McEwen  tendered  to  the  Sheriff 
his  house  (now  owned  by  Mrs.  Ephraim 
Peabody),  while  he  had  Eliza  in  charge, 
which  was  accepted  by  them.  They  re- 
mained there  during  the  whole  trial. 

The  court  assembled  in  the  upper  part 
of  the  Academy  building,  and  lasted  elev- 
en days.  J.  W.  Proctor,  Esq.,  of  South 
Danvers  presided.  Ashael  Huntington 
of  Salem  was  counsel  for  the  government 
and  Leveret  Saltonstall,  Esq.,  of  Salem, 
appeared  for  Eliza.  The  attorneys  King 
and  Mack  of  Salem  assisted  in  the  trial, 
but  in  what  capacity  I am  unable  to 
write.  There  was  little  work  done  at 
home ; every  lady  in  the  town  attended 
court.  I was  there  every  day. 

Mr.  Huntington  made  the  opening  ad- 


dress, during  which  he  held  aloft  the 
letter  that  Mr.  John  Rea  said  that  he 
had  found,  and  in  a high  and  powerful 
voice,  declared  that  he  should  prove  the 
charge  by  it.  she,  Eliza,  having  gone 
over  it  with  her  pen  after  it  was  written, 
which  was  called  “painting.”  Mr.  Samuel 
Rea  had  the  severest  examination.  I 
think  he  was  on  the  stand  four  or  five 
days,  and  that  beautiful  breast-pin  was 
often  alluded  to. 

The  trial  waxed  warm  and  bitter,  last- 
ing, as  I have  written,  eleven  days,  days 
that,  as  the  sun  went  down,  grew  darker 
and  darker  for  Eliza,  but  confidence  in 
his  client,  aud  satisfaction  in  the  result 
that  he  would  prove  to  the  world  that 
Eliza  Bradstreet  was  innocent  of  the 
charge  of  arson, — a charge  actuated  by 
selfish  and  unkind  motives, — spurred  on 
Saltonstall.  The  thunder  clap  came 
when  her  brother  took  the  stand,  and  in 
answer  to  the  question.  “Did  your  sister 
ever  write  to  you?”  replied  with  an  em- 
phatic “No.”  “Did  she  give  any  rea- 
son?” continued  Saltonstall,  to  which  he 
replied,  “Yes.”  “Dear  brother,  my  will 
is  good  enough,  but  I cannot  write.” 
Others  testified  to  this  fact,  which  ap- 
peared to  be  the  deciding  point  in  the  trial. 

Wheu  the  trial  was  ended,  the  court 
adjourned  to  the  church  for  the  closing 
pleas.  Two  days  elapsed  before  we  got 
the  verdict,  but  on  the  morning  or  the 
4th  of  March,  1837,  Eliza  Bradstreet  was 
acquitted  of  the  charge  of  arson.  The 
verdict  was,  “Could  not  sustain  the 
charge.” 

The  bells  pealed  forth  the  joyful  news. 
It  was  the  day  that  President  Van  Buren 
was  inaugurated,  and  people  out  of  town 
thought  Topsfield  was  getting  unusually 
patriotic. 

In  closing  this  paper,  I will  say  that 
this  is  written  from  memory,  aud  not 
from  notes.  I do  not  think  that  I have 
misquoted  anyone,  or  misstated  any  of 
the  facts.  Of  the  principals  in  this  fa- 
mous trial, — a trial  which  was  never  re- 
corded save  by  Him  who  knoweth  all 
things  that  are  done  in  this  earth, — I will 
say  that  Mr.  John  Rea  married  Ann 
Sawyer,  and  moved  to  the  British  Prov- 
inces, and  Eliza  Bradstreet  became  Mrs. 

I Silas  Cochrane. 


10 


1.  ops  field  -Mii^ube  -M.ep  ab 
Babble  of  Lexii)^bor). 


“At  a Meeting  of  the  Alarm  List  and 
Training  Band  of  the  Foot  company  io 
Topsfleld,  on  the  5th  of  December,  1774, 
to  choose  officers  for  the  said  Company, 
(agreeable  to  the  advice  of  the  Provincial 
Congress),  voted,  Mr.  Stephen  Perkins, 
chairman;  voted,  Mr.  Joseph  Gou'd, 
Captain. 

The  Day  being  Spent,  a Motion  vv.»s 
made  for  said  Meeting  to  be  adjourned  to 
the  next  Morning,  9 o’clock  ;the  Question 
was  put  and  passed  io  the  Affirmative  and 
accordingly  said  Meeting  was  adjourned 
to  said  Time. 

December  6.  Said  Alarm  List  and 
Training  Band  met  according  to  Adjourn- 
ment, a Motion  was  made  said  Company 
to  be  divided  into  two  distinct  Compan- 
ies; the  Question  was  put  and  according- 
ly th-y  were  divided  into  two  Companies ; 
the  first  Company  voted  Mr.  Joseph 
Gould,  Captain ; Mr.  Samuel  Cummings, 
Lieutenant;  Mr.  Thomas  Moore,  Ensign; 
and  all  the  other  Officers  by  a great  Ma- 
jority. The  second  Company  voted  Mr. 
Stephen  Perkins.  Captain;  Mr.  Samuel 
Dodge,  Lieutenant;  Mr.  David  Perkins, 
Ensign;  and  all  the  o1  her  Officers  by  a 
gr^at  Majority.” 

Essex  Gazette,  Dec  27,  1774. 

The  'oilowing  Muster  Rolls  were  cop- 
ied from  the  State  Archives  by  Geo.  Frs. 
Dow,  and  the  dates  of  birth  and  death 
were  inserted  by  the  late  John  Hood 
Gould. 

North  Ward.  Company. 

A Roll  of  the  Company  which  marched 
from  Topsfleld  under  the  Command  of 
Capt.  Stephen  Perkins  in  consequence  of 
the  alarm  on  ye  19th  April,  1775. 


Capt.  Stephn  Perkins 

BOHN 

1726 

DIED 

1790 

Lt.  Solo.  Dodge 



, 

2d  Lt.  David  Perkius 

1725 

1803 

Ser.  Sam’l  Bradstreet 

1729 

1777 

“ Jacob  Kimball 

1734 

1810 

“ Nath'l  Dorman 

1740 

1776 

“ Thus.  Cummings 

1741 

1806 

Corp’l  Benj.  Hobbs 

1749 

1833 

“ Ezra  Perkins 

1753 

1824 

“ Josiah  Lamsou 

1751 

1836 

Nath’l  Averell 

1747 

1811 

Isaac  Averell 

1740 

1816 

Amos  Averell 

1747 

1805 

Dau'l  Boardman 

1752 

1803 

John  Batchelor 

1743 

1819 

Israel  Clarke 

1732 

1790 

Josiah  Cummings 

1756 



Ephraim  Dorman 

1741 

1818 

Stephen  Foster 

1741 

1791 

Wm.  Gallop 

1750 

— 

Hez’h  Hodgskins  d.  New  Ipswich,  N.  H. 


Nath’l  Hammon 

1757 

1842 

Isaac  Hobbs 

1743 

1830 

David  H«»bbs 

1752 

1830 

Jon’a  Hobbs 

1754 

1833 

Benja.  Hood 

1748 

1801 

Iveiy  Hovey 

1756 

1816 

Richard  Hood 

1751 

1824 

John  Lams  >n 

1756 

Amos  Low 

1752 



Aaron  Kueeland 

1754 

d.  Me. 

Thomas  Perkins 

1725 

1801 

Sami.  Perkins 

1730 

1810 

Rob't  Persins 

1728 

1801 

Oliver  Perkins 

1744 

1825 

Jacob  Peabody 

— 

Stepn’n  Perkins 

1745 

1796 

Zeb’n  Perkins 

1740 

1810 

Jos.  Perkins 

1738 

1805 

Elisha  Perkins 

1745 

Jos.  Symonds 

1749 



Jacob  Symonds 

1749 

1801 

11 


BORN 

DIED 

Dan’l  Towne 

1736 

1808 

Jacob  Towne 

1728 

1807 

Moses  Wildes 

1740 

1810 

Eph’m  Wildes 

1744 

1812 

Jno.  LeFavour 

1748 

1834 

The  company  marched  60  miles  and  saw 
2£  days  service.  Capt.  Perkins  received 
£1  2 while  the  privates  of  the  company 
received  10s-8d. 

South  Ward  Company. 

A musier  Roll  of  Capt.  Joseph  Gould; 
Company  of  the  Militia  whereof  John 
Baker  Esq.  is  Coll,  who  marched  on  the 
19th  day  of  April  last  past  inconsequence 
of  the  Alarm  made  on  that  Day  by  the 
English  Troops. 


Topsfield,  December  26 
BORN 

, 1775. 

DIED 

Capt.  Joseph  Gould 

1715 

1803 

Lieut.  Sam’l  Cummiugs 

1732 

1796 

Ens.  Thos.  Mower 

— 

— 

Sergt.  Nehemiah  Herrick 

1737 

d.  Vt. 

John  Peabody 

1730 

1802 

“ David  Towne,  jr. 

1744 

1815 

“ Thomas  Porter 

1751 

— 

Corp.  Cornelius  Balch 

1749 

1795 

“ Ebenezer  Knight 

— 

— 

“ Benj.  Gould 

1751 

1841 

Drum  Elijah  Perkins 

1756 

1841 

David  Balch,  jr. 

1753 

1812 

Robert  Balch 

1745 

— 

David  Balch,  3d 

1741 

[Keeue, 

died 
N.  H. 

Roger  Balch 

1755 

1842 

Israel  Balch 

1756 

1778 

Samuel  Balch 

1744 

— 

David  Balch 

1714 

1787 

Daniel  Bigsbe,  jr. 

1751 

1825 

Dudley  Bigsbe 

1756 

— 

Benjamin  Brown 

— 

— 

Thomas  Baker,  jr. 

1752 

— 

Henry  Bradstreet 

1742 

1818 

Daniel  Bigsbe 

BORN 

1714 

DIED 

1775 

John  Cree 

1722 

1794 

Samuel  Cree 

— 



Joseph  Cree 

1753 

— 

Bartholo’w  Dwiuel 

1728 

1801 

John  Dwinel 

1745 

1818 

Daniel  Eastey 

1739 

1830 

Wm.  Eastey 

1748 

— 

Nathaniel  Fisk 

1741 

1815 

Samuel  Fisk 

1747 

1826 

Simon  Gouid 

1755 

1831 

Thomas  Gould 

1732 

1778 

Zaccheus  Gould 

— 

— 

John  Gould,  jr. 

1749 

1820 

John  Gould,  3d 

1746 

1819 

Nath'l  Gould 

1753 

1842 

Daniel  Gould 

1753 

1842 

John  Gould 

1746 

1816 

Enos  Knight 





Benj.  Kimball 





Eliezer  Lake,  jr. 

1751 

1824 

Eliezer  Lake 

1724 

1796 

Daniel  Porter 

1743 

1831 

Moses  Perkins  jr. 

1755 

1806 

Thomas  Perkins,  3d 

1753  d.N.H. 

Moses  Perkins 

1732 

1807 

William  Ray 

1755 

1779 

John  Ray,  jr. 

1751 

1821 

John  Ray 

1736 

1797 

Ephraim  Towne,  jr. 

1753 

1804 

Joseph  Towne 

1728 

1789 

Joseph  Towne,  jr. 

1749 

1820 

Arch.  Towne 

1752 

1804 

Stephen  Towne,  jr. 

1741 

David  Towne 

1715 

1778 

Jeremiah  Towne,  jr. 

1743 

Wm.  Towne 

1751 



Joshua  Towne 

1721 

1788 

The  company  marched 

60  miles 

and 

saw  a service  of  3 to  5 days.  Capt.  Gould 
was  paid  £1-6-5,  while  the  privates  re- 
ceived about  12s.  l|d.  as  an  average. 


12 


William  Towne,  t|is  Daughters,  and  the 
Witchcraft  Delusions. 

By  Mrs.  Abbie  W.  Towne. 


The  name  of  Towne  is  not  one  of  fre- 
quent occurrence  in  England ; the  first 
mention  of  it  is  in  A.  D.  1227.  The  next 
we  hear  of  the  name  is  one  hundred  and 
thirty  years  later,  in  the  reign  of  Henry 
IV.,  when  upon  the  windows  of  the 
church  in  Kenuington,  Kent  Co.,  unpaled 
with  that  of  Ellis  of  the  same  place,  were 
the  arms  of  a family  by  this  name  being, 
argent,  on  a chevron , sable,  three  cross 
crosslets,  ermine.  The  next  reference  to 
the  name  known  to  the  writer,  is  in  the 
county  of  Lincoln  wheie  it  has  existed 
for  more  than  four  hundred  years. 

Richard  Towne  of  Braceby  in  the  coun- 
ty of  Lincoln,  married  Ann,  —they  had 
ten  children;  one  of  these  children,  Wil- 
liam, was  baptized  May  31,  1603,  and  is 
supposed  to  be  our  Anglo-American  pro- 
genitor. Ann  To wne’s  will  was  proved 
May  10,  1630.  William  B.  Towne  of 
Brookline,  Mass.,  has  a copy  of  this  will. 
That  our  William  was  the  -on  of  Richard 
and  Ann  is  probable,  but  there  Is  no  ab 
solute  proof,  and  before  we  go  on  to  the 
facts  that  we  can  prove.  I wish  to  speak 
of  another  William  Towne  who  came  to 
America.  He  was  living  at  Cambridge, 
Mass.,  in  1635,  was  made  a freeman  or 
voter  in  1637,  and  was  quite  a prominent 
man  in  the  infant  colony.  He  married 

Martha and  died  in  1685.  leaving  two 

children  Peter  and  Mary.  Peter  was 
married  but  left  no  son  and  thus  ended 
the  family  name  in  Cambridge.  I have 
spoken  of  this  William  because  I do  not 
think  it  generally  known  that  there  were 
two;  this  has  caused  much  confusion  in 
times  past. 

William  Towne  of  Salem,  Mass.,  is  the 
father  of  the  Towne  race  in  America  Mr. 
Cleveland  says  in  his  centennial  address 
in  1850,  “This  descendants  have  settleJ  in 
two-thirds  of  the  states,  of  the  Union,” 
and  Mr.  Hubbard  says  in  his  Towne  gen- 
ealogy, “There  are  few  families  deriving 
their  name  from  a single  pair  that  can 


show  a larger  number  of  descendants 
than  William  and  Joanna  (Blessing) 
Towne.  Counting  only  the  descendants 
of  the  Towne  daughters  of  the  first  and 
second  generations,  a list  of  more  than 
ten  thousand  might  be  easily  made  out 
without  coming  down  later  than  the  ear- 
lier part  of  the  nineteenth  century.” 

William  Towne  and  Joanna  Blessing 
were  married  at  St.  Nichols  church,  Yar- 
mouth, Norfolk  Co.,  England,  March  25, 
1620.  Their  children  were  — Rebecca, 
baptized  Feb.  21,  1621,  married  Francis 
Nurse  of  Salem  Villa.e;  John,  baptized 
Ftb.  16,  1624,  died  before  his  father;  Sus 
anna,  baptized  Oct.  20,  1625,  died  before 
her  father;  Edmund,  baptized  June  28, 
1628,  married  Mary  Browning  of  Salem; 
Jacob,  baptized  March  11,  1632,  married 
Catharine  Symonds  of  Salem  : Marv,  bap- 
tized Aug.  24,  1634,  married  Isaac  Esty  of 
Topsfied;  Sarah,  baptized  Sept.  3,  1648, 
married  Edmund  Bridges,  and  second, 
Peter  Cloise;  Joseph,  baptized  Sept.  3, 
1648,  married  Phebe  Perkins,  daughter  of 
Deacon  Thos.  Perkins. 

The  first  we  hear  of  this  family  in  Sa- 
lem, Essex  Co.,  is  in  the  book  of  early 
grants,  where  the  following  appears: 
“8  mo.  1640,  granted  to  Wm.  Towne  a 
little  neck  of  land  rig  lit  over  against  his 
house  on  the  other  side  of  the  river.” 
William  Towne’s  residence  was  in  that 
part  of  Salem  known  as  Northfields.  He 
remained  at  this  place  until  1651,  when  he 
pu  i chased  a tract  of  land  in  Topsfield  of 
William  Paine  of  Ipswich,  containing 
“forty  acres  of  ground  or  thereabouts, 
whereof  six  acres  is  by  the  seller,  which 
Wm.  Howard  of  Topsfield  built,  and 
about  thirty-two  acres  joyning  up  to  the 
sayd  six  acres  eastward  of  it,  part  of 
which  is  plow  ground  another  part  is 
meadow, another  part  is  upland  unplowed 
all  lying  together  having  the  meadow  and 
th£  plow  ground  of  the  said  William 
Howard  towards  the  east,  and  the  ground 


13 


of  Walter  Ropes  towards  the  uorth  and  a 
certain  river  towards  tlie  south,  also  a 
little  meadow  of  about  two  acres  lieing 
on  the  south  side  of  the  river.”  In  1652 
he  sold  his  property  in  Salem  and  pur- 
chased additional  lands  in  Topsfield.  In 
1663  “in  consideration  of  natural  affec 
tion  and  the  contemplated  marriaiie  of 
their  son  Joseph  Towne  to  Phebe  Per- 
kins, daughter  of  Dea.  Thomas  Perkins, 
he  and  his  wife  conveyed  to  their  son 
Joseph  two-thirds  of  the  home  wherein 
they  then  did  dwell,  with  barn,  out  hous- 
es, yard,  gardens,  orchards,  lying  situate 
and  being  in  Topsfield  together  with  a 
parcel  of  land,  etc.,  etc  ” All  these  con- 
veyances being  made  with  the  desire  that 
their  son  Joseph  should  have  the  first  re- 
fusal of  the  remaining  third  when  the 
same  should  be  for  sale.  William  Towne 
died  about  1672;  his  widow  seem*  to  have 
survived  him  about  ten  years.  The  sous 
were  prominent  men ; we  find  their  names 
many  times  as  appraisers  of  estates  and 
also  that  they  settled  many  estates.  In 
1669  Edmond  and  Jacob  laid  out  the  road 
leading  towards  the  south  from  the  bridge 
near  their  father’s  house.  This  road  was 
to  be  one  pole  wide,  and  must  be  one  of 
the  oldest  roads  on  the  south  side  of  the 
river. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  for  me  to  give 
any  account,  of  the  witchcraft  delusion, 
which  swept  over  our  quiet  neighbor- 
hood two  hundred  years  ago;  all  are  fa 
miliar  with  iha1  terrible  story.  Rebecca 
Nourse  was  the  fourth  victim.  Uphara 
says  the  only  clue  to  the  mystery  that  a 
person  of  Mrs.  Nurse’s  character  should 
be  selected,  was  the  prosperous  conditi  >n 
of  the  Nurse  family  and  trouble  about 
bounds.  Nevins  thinks  her  near  relation- 
ship to  the  Townes  of  Topsfield,  who 
were  actively  int-rested  in  settling  the 
disputed  bounds,  had  a bearing  on  the 
case.  Two  of  her  neighbors,  Israel  and 
Elizabeth  Porter,  were  sent  to  acquaint 
her  with  the  fact  that  she  had  been  ac- 
cused. They  found  her  veiy  weak  and 
suffering,  but  patient,  and  she  blessed 
God  that  she  had  more  of  Him  in  her 
weakness  than  in  her  strength.  When 
we  told  her  that  she  had  been  spoken  of, 
she  said,  “Well,  if  it  be  so,  the  will  of 
the  Lord  be  done,”  she  sat  a while  being, 


as  it  were,  amazed,  and  then  she  said, 
“Well,  as  to  this  thing,  I am  as  innocent 
as  a child  unborn,  but  surely,”  she  said, 
“What  sin  hath  God  found  out  in  me  un- 
repented of  that  he  should  lay  such  an 
affliction  upon  me  in  my  age.”  It  is  said 
she  bore  her  examination  with  steadfast 
dignity  and  heavenly  patience.  One  can- 
not read  the  description  of  these  trials 
with  any  particle  of  patieuce.  The  peo- 
ple were  barbarous,  the  judges  little  bet 
ter.  They  were  supposed  to  be  counsel 
for  the  prisoners,  but  instead  were  really 
against  them,  and  badgered  the  victims 
unmercifully.  Rebecca  Nurse  was  pro- 
nounced innocent  by  the  jury,  but  the 
audience  made  such  a clamor  that  the 
judge  sent  them  out  again  and  practically 
charged  them  to  find  her  guilty,  and  they 
did  so.  It  is  related  also  by  Upham  that 
a w<>man  in  the  audience  threw  her  muff 
at  Mrs  Nurse  and  as  this  did  not,  hit  her 
she  look  off  her  shoe  and  threw  it  with 
such  good  aim  that  it  hit  the  poor  old 
lady  on  the  head,  making  quite  a severe 
cut.  When  we  think  that  this  woman 
was  seventy  one  years  old,  and  in  ill 
health,  that  she  had  been  loved  and  re 
spected  to  an  unusual  degree,  and  then 
picture  her  standing  before  the  gtave 
judges  of  the  colony, a target  for  the  mob, 
on  trial  for  her  life,  we  wonder  that  her 
brothers,  her  sons  aud  her  husbands  had 
not  rescued  herbv  force  She  was  loaded 
with  chains,  taken  to  the  church  and  ex- 
communicated, and  on  July  19,  1692  hung 
on  Gallo  vs  hill.  The  witches  were  not 
a’lowed  Christian  burial,  but  were  taken 
from  the  gallows,  huddled  into  shallow 
hollows  among  the  rocks,  and  covered 
with  a thin  layer  of  earth.  I have  been 
told  that  on  one  occasion  the  hand  of  one 
of  the  vict  ims  protruded  above  ground, 
as  if  the  very  earth  itself  rcfu-ed  them 
shelter. 

According  to  tradition  the  sons  of  Re 
becca  Nurse  stole  their  mother’s  body  on 
the  night  following  her  execution,  and 
carried  it  on  their  shoulders  to  their  des 
olate  home  Think  what  a journey  it 
mu*t  have  been  for  those  men! 

When  Mr.  Harris  singled  out  Rebecca 
Nurse,  and  in  his  sermon  called  her  a de- 
mon, Sarah  Cloyre,  her  sister,  arose  and 
left  the  church  This  was  a natural  thing 


14 


to  do,  but  we  of  today  can  hardly  realize 
the  courage  it  required.  The  next  day 
she  too  was  cried  out  upon,  she  was  tried 
and  condemned,  but  fo'-  some  reason 
never  executed,  some  think  she  confessed 
but  I do  not;  she  was  a brave  woman, 
and  a woman  of  the  same  family  as  Re- 
becca Nurse  and  Mary  Esty,  and  I cannot 
think  she  could  possibly  say  that  she  was 
a witch.  She  was  confined  at  the  Ips- 
wich jail  because  there  was  no  room  at 
Salem  and  I am  inclined  to  think  that 
with  so  many  victims  near  at  hand  she 
was  forgotten. 

Mary  E9ty  (the  self-forgetful),  was  ac- 
cused for  no  other  reason  than  her  sym- 
pathy for  her  sisters;  she  was  48  years  of 
age  and  the  mother  of  seven  children. 
During  her  examination  the  magistrates 
said  to  her,  ‘‘confess  if  you  be  guilty.” 
She  answered,  “I  will  say  it  if  for  the 
last  time,  I am  clear  of  this  sin.”  This 
was  on  April  21.  On  May  18  she  was  re- 
leased. Two  days  after  the  accusing 
girls  were  seized  with  terrible  convul- 
sions, and  said  it  was  Mary  Esty  who 
cursed  them.  Accordingly  a second  war- 
rant was  procured,  she  was  taken  May  21 
and  removed  to  Salem  for  trial.  After 
midnight  she  was  aroused  from  sleep  by 
the  marshal,  torn  from  her  husband  and 
children,  carried  back  to  prison  loaded 
with  chains,  and  finally  consigned  to  a 
dreadful  and  most  cruel  death.  Her  hus- 
band referring  to  the  transaction  nearly 


twenty  years  after  said  that  it  was  a 
‘‘hellish  molestation.”  On  the  way  to  the 
gallows  she  was  met  by  he*’  family  and 
friends,  and  of  this  meeting  and  parting 
Calef  says,  “that  her  words  of  farewell 
were  said  to  have  been  as  serious,  relig- 
ious, distinct,  and  affectionate  as  could 
well  be  expressed,  drawing  tears  from 
the  eyes  of  almost  all  present.” 

While  in  jail  awaiting  execution  Mary 
Esty  petitioned  the  governor,  judges  and 
ministers,  “Not  for  my  own  life,  fori 
know  I must  die  and  my  appointed  time 
is  set,  but  the  Lord  he  knows  it  is  that 
if  it  be  possible,  no  more  innocent  blood 
may  be  shed,  which  undoubtedly  cannot 
be  avoided  in  the  way  and  course  you 
now  go  in.  By  ray  own  innocency  I 
know  you  are  in  thewrong  I would  hum- 
bly beg  of  you  that  your  honors,  would  be 
pleased  to  examine  these  afflicted  per- 
sons strictly,  and  keep  them  apart  some 
time,  and  likewise  to  try  some  of  these 
confessing  witches,  I being  confident 
there  are  several  of  them  have  belied 
themselves,  and  others,  as  will  appear,  if 
not  in  this  world,  lam  sure  in  the  world 
to  come,  whither  I am  now  going.” 

Upham  closes  his  chapter  on  Mary  Esty 
with  these  words  : “The  lofty  tone  of  this 
message  to  the  court  recalls  the  perfect 
spirit  of  the  prisoner  on  Calvary  who  en- 
treated, ‘Father  forgive  them  ; they  know 
not  what  they  do.’  ” 


The  Settlement  of  Tepsfield. 

Geo.  Frs.  Dow. 


Every  township  located  wherever  it 
may  be,  whether  in  the  old  time  settle- 
ments along  the  Atlantic  coast  or  spr inn- 
ing up  on  the  western  slopes  of  the  Sierra 
Nevada,  should  have  and  generally  is 
possessed  of  a natural  spirit  of  inquiry  as 
to  its  first  settlement  and  early  growth 

Who  was  the  first  settler  and  where 
did  he  build  his  house?  When  was  the 
town  incorporated  and  who  were  the 
petitioners? 

These  and  kindred  questions  naturally 
rise  to  the  lips  of  the  inquirer,  and  oft- 
times  arouse  differences  of  opinion  not 
easily  settled  by  the  scanty  records  now 
existing.  Tradition  then  comes  to  the 
assistance  of  the  incomplete  data,  and  al- 
most without  exception  makes  a bad 
matter  worse  so  that  who  can  wonder  at 
the  varying  statements  of  historical  fact 
met  within  the  village  or  town  that  does 
not  possess  a printed  history  carefully 
prepaired  by  an  unbiased  historian. 

Topsfield  is  unfortunate  in  not  possess- 
ing such  a printed  record  of  events,  and 
the  historical  theories  advanced  from 
time  to  time  by  some  ardent  investiga- 
tor can  only  be  combated  after  collecting 
widely  scattered  data  beaiing  upon  the 
facts  in  the  case. 

The  following  historical  sketch  has 
been  prepared  from  the  original  data 
found  in  the  proceedings  of  the  Great  and 
General  Court,  the  records  of  the  Ipswich 
and  Salem  Courts,  and  the  valuable  ma- 
terial on  file  at  the  Registry  of  Deeds. 

The  earlv  settlements  along  the  shores 
of  Massachusetts  Bay  owe  their  existence 
to  the  unrelentless  persecution  of  the 
Puritans  in  England  at  the  investigation 
of  Archbishop  Laud.  Small  fishing  and 
trading  posts  had  found  a lodgement 
along  the  coast  some  years  before  the 
coming  of  Endicot,  but  these  consisted  of 
little  else  than  a few  rudely  constructed 
huts  for  sheltering  the  lonesome  fisher- 
men who  cared  for  the  fish  flakes. 

The  arrival  at  Salem  in  1628  of  John 
Endicot  with  a small  party  of  one  hun- 
dred emigrants  was  in  reality  the  laying 
of  the  foundation  of  the  first  permanent 


town  in  the  Massachusetts  Bay  Colony. 

John  Endicot  was  a prominent  member 
of  the  Non-conformist  company,  styled 
“The  Governor  and  Company  of  the 
Massachusetts  Bay  iu  New  England,” 
who  had  obtained  from  Charles  I a pa- 
tent for  that  part  of  New  England  lying 
between  three  miles  to  the  northward  of 
the  Merrimac  river  and  three  miles  to  the 
southward  of  the  Charles,  and  extending 
in  breadth  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  South 
Sea.  He  had  been  chosen  by  the  Com- 
pany “to  govern,”  and  as  Johnson  says 
in  his  Wonder  working  Providence,  was 
“a  fit  instrument  to  begin  this  wilderness 
work  ; of  courage  bold,  undaunted,  yet 
sociable,  and  of  a cheerful  spirit,  loving 
or  austere,  as  occasion  served.” 

The  patent  or  charter  granted  to  these 
early  settlers  gave  undisputed  title  to  the 
land,  for  the  scourge  of  small  pox  had 
shortly  before  their  arrival  almost  com- 
pletely annihilated  the  native  race  of  In- 
dians, and  the  rights  of  the  few  who  had 
survived  the  pestilence,  were  easily  pur- 
chased, so  that  full  and  just  title  to  all 
the  land  was  held  oy  the  Massachusetts 
Bay  Company  who  alone  could  sell  or 
grant. 

In  1629  the  settlers  began  to  arrive  and 
duiing  the  next  four  years,  upwards  of 
four  thousand  of  them  found  homes  in  the 
infant  colony. 

In  1633,  April  1st,  the  court  of  assist- 
ants ordered  “that  no  person  whatsoever 
shall  go  to  plant  or  inhabit  at  Aggawam, 
without  leave  from  the  Court,  except 
those  that  are  already  gone.”  The  little 
party  of  adventurers  was  headed  by  John 
Winthrop,  juur.,  and  consisted  of  ten 
men.  Two  of  them,  Mr.  William  Per- 
kins and  Daniel  Clark,  afterwards  settled 
in  Topsfield,  and  two  others,  Mr.  John 
Winthrop,  junr,  and  Thomas  Howlett  re- 
ceived large  grants  of  land  in  the  town. 

The  town  of  Ipswich  was  incorporated 
in  1634  and  grew  rapidly  in  population 
and  importance ; it  became  the  shire  town 
of  the  county  and  several  of  the  Assist- 
ants and  other  prominent  men  in  the 
Colony  built  their  homes  near  the  slowly 


16 


flowing  Agawam. 

The  surrounding  country  was  explored’ 
and  valuable  meadows  were  discovered 
on  following  up  the  banks  of  the  river  to 
a point  some  seven  miles  inland.  These 
to  the  new  settler  were  particularly  de- 
sirable since  his  cattle  brought  from  the 
mother  country,  required  hay  for  their 
sustinence.  and  the  clearing  of  the  almost 
unbroken  forest  was  an  undertaking  re- 
quiring time  and  the  assistance  of  many 
hands.  Thus  the  New  Meadows,  as  the 
locality  was  named.,  was  much  resorted 
to  for  the  easily  obtained  meadow  grass, 
and  as  the  richness  of  the  intervale  land 
was  seen,  settlers  began  to  obtain  grants 
and  build  their  rude  dwellings. 

The  earliest  comers  probably  located 
about  I639>  1640' as  the  following  extract 
from  the  Colony  records  seems  to  show 

“Whereas,  at  the  Court  houlden  at  Boston 
the  4tb,  7th  mo.  1639,  there  was  certain  land 
lying  near  Ipswich  River  granted  for  a vil- 
lage, either  to  some  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Salem  or  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  Ip- 
swich who  have  farms  near  unto  the  said 
land,  to  be  enjoyed  by  those  who  first  settled 
a village  there,  they  both  propounding  for  it 
together;:  howsoever  the  order  mentioueth 
only  Salem  inhabitants  and  for  as  much  as 
the  said  inhabitants  of  Ipswich  have  for  near 
this  two  years  procured  and  maintained  one 
to  dispence  the  word  of  God  unto  them,  which 
they  intend  to  continue,  it  is  therefore  order- 
ed and  granted,  that  Mr.  John  Endecott  and 
the  said  inhabitants  of  Ipswich,  viz  , Mr. 
Bradstreet,  Mr.  Symonds,  Mr.  Whittingham, 
Mr.  William  Paine,  Mr.  Robert  Paine,  and 
such  other  of  Ipswich  or  Salem  as  they  shall 
associate  to  themselves,  shall  have  liberty  to 
settle  a village  uear  the  said  river  of  Ipswich 
as  it  may  be  most  convenient  for  them,  to 
which  the  foresaid  land,  shall  belong,  viz., 
all  that  which  lieth  near  the  said  river  (not 
formerly  granted  to  any  town  or  person), 
provided  that  any  of  the  inhabitants  of  Sa- 
lem, who  have  farmes  near  u to  the  said  land 
now  grauted,  shall  have  liberty  for  one  year 
next  coming  to  jo.yne  with  the  said  village.” 
Mass.  Colony  Records. 

Oct.  17,  1643. 

Of  the  » >ove  named  persons  it  is  quite 
certain  that  one  of  them,  Mr.  Wra.  Paine, 
resided  in'  the  new  settlement,  and  he 
only  at  intervals,  although  Mr.  Symonds 
for  a part  of  the  time  may  have  lrved  on 
his  farm,  known  as  “Olivers,”  which- had 


its  southerly  bounds  on  Pye  Brook. 

Of  the  settlers  who  were  living  at  the 
New  Meadows  in  1645  we  have  the  names 
of  a few.  Zaccheus  Gould,  Daniel  Clark, 
the  Redingtons,  Abraham  and  John;  Al- 
exander Knight  who  dispensed  the  Word.- 
Mr.  Wm.  Paine,  the  gentlemanly  mer- 
chant; Walter  Roper,  carpenter;  Wm. 
Howard  and  Isaac  Cummings  can  prob 
ably  be  included  in  the  list.  Others  fol- 
lowed, and  in  1648  the  villagers,  feeling 
impressed  with  their  growth  and  import- 
ance, petitioned  the  Court  to  bestow  a 
name  on  “the  viliage”at  the  New  Meadows 
at  Ipswich,  which  we  suppose  may  be  an 
encouragement  to  others  to  come  to  live 
amougst  us;  and  also  a means  to  further 
a ministry  amongst  us,  we  tlbnK  that 
Hempstead  will  be  a fit  name  if  the  Court 
please  to  gratify  us  herewith.” 

The  petition  was  signed  by  Wra.  Paine. 
Brian  Pendleton  and  Ziccheus  Gould. 
The  town  narrowly  escaped  being  chris- 
tened' Hempstead  as  requested  by  the 
petitioners,  for  the  deputies  voted  to 
grant  the  request:  but  when  ihe  court  of 
magistral es  came  to  consider  the  propo- 
sition, the  action  of  the  lower  court  was 
set  aside  and  Toppesfeild  was  substituted. 

This  action  took  place  Oct.  18,  1648, 
and  was  probably  influenced  by  Samuel 
Symonds,  a large  land  owner  in  the  vil- 
lage nnd  an  important  Assistant.  He  had 
lived  in  the  village  of  Toppesfleld  in  the 
mother  country, and  no  doubt  was  pleased 
to  perpetuate  the  familiar  name  on  the 
other  side  of  the  broad  Atlantic.  In  1650 
Zaccheus  Gould  and  William  Howard, 
petitioned  ihe  Court  to-  grant  that  Tops 
field  should  henceforth  be  a town  and 
have  power  within  itself  to  order  all  civil 
affairs,  and  on  Oct.  the  18th  of  that  year 
the  request  was  granted  and  Topsfield 
began  its  seperate  corporate  existence. 

The  settlement  thus  far  without  excep- 
tion had  peeu  made  on  the  north  side  of 
the  river  and  by  Ipswich  people.  No 
doubt  the  richer  lands  were  sufficient  in- 
ducement and  the  river  Agawam  itself 
«erved  as  a hindrance  to  the  early  occu- 
pation of  the  hills  on  its  southerly  side. 
In  1639  the  Court  had  granted  Mr.  John 
Endecott  550  acres  of  land  upon  the  Ips- 
wich river  on  the  north  of  Salem  bounds. 
The  court  did  not  lay  out  ihe  grant  until 


17 


u number  of  years  after,  and  then  only  at 
the  repeated  requests  of  Mr.  Eudecott  at 
that  time  Governor  of  the  Colony.  Not 
until  May  2,  1659  were  the  bounds  set, 
having  “a  brook  against  Goodman 
Gould’s  land  on  the  east,  Blind  Hole  on 
the  south,  and  the  wilderness  elsewhere 
surrounding  the  said  farm,  taking  into 
the  bounds  thereof  the  swampy  meadow 
land  that  lyeth  on  the  south  side  of  the 
river.” 

Evidences  of  the  presence  of  copper  ore 
were  found  on  the  hills  in  Blind  Hole  at 
the  south  of  the  river,  and  at  the  request 
of  Gov.  John  Endecott  the  Court  granted 
him  Oct  14,  1651,  ‘-three  hundred  acres 
of  woodland  tending  to  the  furtherance 
of  a copper  work  he  intends  to  set  up  in 
a place  called  Blind  Hole,  neer  to  a farm 
formerly  granted  him,  the  said  land  n<»t 
being  formerly  granted,  provided  he  set 
up  his  said  works  within  seven  years.” 
i The  Governor  engaged  Richard  Leader, 
who  had  been  superintending  the  iron 
works  at  Lynn,  to  open  his  copper  mine 
but  ill  success  followed  the  venture  and 
copper  mining  in  Topsfield  was  aban- 
doned for  the  space  of  over  one  hundred 
years.  In  1771  the  Massachusetts  Spy 
reported  “that  the  copper-mine  some  time 
since  opened  in  Topsfield  at  12  or  15  feet 
depth,  affords  such  samples  of  fine  lively 
ore  extended  in  spatterings  all  over  the 
pit,  that  experienced  miners  have  de- 
clared the  appearances  preferable  to  any 
yet  discovered  in  America.” 

, Tradition  has  it  tint  a large  quantity 
of  ore  was  taken  to  Salem  and  loaded 
into  ships  sailing  across  the  sea  in  order 
that  it  might  be  smelted  on  the  other  side. 
Unfortunately  disaster  intervened,  and 
the  ships  were  never  heard  from.  Wheth- 
er the  magnetic  currents  from  the  north 
treacherously  waved  from  ore  to  compass 
or  chilly  icebergs  floated  in  the  course  of 
the  ships,  the  sea  alone  can  tell.  So  per- 
ished the  copper  industry  in  Topsfield. 

About  1651  was  built  the  bridge  across 
the  river  now  known  as  “the  river 
bridge.”  Walter  Roper  and  William 
Howard  were  the  prime  movers  in  the 
enterprise,  both  being  laud  owners  near 
by,  and  no  doubt  being  moved  by  the 
growth  of  the  town  and  the  greater  need 


of  pastrage  and  timber  as  well  as  to 
make  it  easier  to  reach  Salem,  Lynn  and 
Boston.  The  bridge  was  probably  a rude 
structure  well  in  keeping  with  the  blazed 
bridge  path“leading  to  the  south  ” In  1669 
this  path  became  a ways  one  pole  wide, 
hilly  and  but  little  travelled. 

On  the  southerly  side  of  Ipswich  river, 
Topsfield  has  about  two  thousand  acres 
of  land.  At  the  time  we  are  speaking  of 
Gov.  Endecott  owned  some  five  hundred 
acres,  being  Blind  Hole  and  a portion  of 
the  earlier  grant;  Simon  Bradstreet  after 
wards  Governor,  claimed  about  two  hun- 
dred acres  of  rich  meadow  land  in  the 
more  easterly  part,  while  farmer  Porter* 
of  Salem  village  claimed  title  to  a portion 
reaching  to  the  river.  The  villagers  at 
Topsfield  laid  claim  to  the  greater  part  of 
the  remainder  both  upland  and  meadow, 
and  in  1661  the  selectmen,  Ensigne  How- 
lett,  Francis  Pabodye  and  John  Reding- 
ton  were  ordered  to  lay  out  five  hundred 
acres  of  upland  to  remain  common  to 
perpetuity  and  at  the  same  time  to  divide 
the  remainder  of  the  common  land  both 
upland  and  meadow  into  three  equal  di- 
visions. The  matter  of  individual  owner- 
ship of  this  common  land  lay  in  obeyance 
until  1669,  when  the  town  met  together 
and  cast  lots  “that  euery  on  thereby  ma 
know  whot  is  his  share  and  where  it 
lies.” 

The  lots  were  divided  into  three  sizes, 
“single,  dobel  and  trebel”  and  were  por- 
tioned out  according'y  as  the  commoners 
had  been  rated  in  the  ministers  rate  for 
1664,  fifty  shillings,  twenty  shillings,  and 
under  twenty  shillings. 

The  list  contains  thirty  names,  all  but 
three,  Mr.  Bradstreet,  Mr.  Endecott  and 
Uselton  the  Salem  merchant,  being  resi- 
dent in  Topsfield  and  living  on  the  north 
side  of  the  river,  with  one  exception, 
William  Nichols  who  had  in  1652  bought 
of  Henry  Bartholomew  “a  farm  lying 
between  the  bounds  of  Salem  and  Ips- 
wich river.” 

Following  is  the  list  which  shows  the 
heads  of  families  and  gives  a basis  on 
which  to  estimate  the  population  of  the 
town  at  that  time,  1669,  while  the  rating 
shows  practically  a tax  list  and  the  com- 
parative wealth  of  the  town. 


18 


Mr.  Bradstreet 

£ 2-17-02 

Thos.  Browning 

£ 

1-06-00 

Mr.  Perkins 

2-03-09 

Jacob  Towne 

1-04  05 

Zacheus  Gould 

4-03  03 

Isaac  Estey 

19  06 

Mr.  Baker 

3-17-05 

William  Towne 

1-12  07 

Thos.  Dorman 

3-03-00 

Edmond  Towne 

1-08-09 

Francis  Pabody 

4-05-02 

Matthew  Standly 

15  08 

William  Euens 

2-11-00 

Anthony  Carell 

11-01 

Daniell  Clark 

1 04-05 

John  How 

19-00 

Isaac  Cumings,  senr. 

13-08 

Edmond  Bredges 

15-03 

Isaac  Cumings.  junr. 

1-08-00 

William  Nichols 

1 12  09 

Ensigne  Howlett 

1-08  09 

Vsseltons  Lott 

— 

William  Smith 

13-08 

Lumpkins  feirme 

— 

Francis  Bates 

09-00 

Robt.  Andrews  land 

12  00 

Mr.  Endicoat 

1-02-00 

So  grew  the  village  and  prospered,  and 

John  Wiles 

1-12-10 

we  today  enjoy  the  full 

fruits  of  the  fore- 

John  Redington 

3-05-02 

sight  of  our  straight  b 

lcked  and 

stern- 

Thomas  Perkins 

2-19-07 

eyed  ancestors  from  over  the  sea. 

PETITION  FROM  IPSWICH  FARMERS. 

To  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Topsfield  in  Town  Meeting  assembled, 
September  ye  19:  1758. 


The  Petition  of  us  the  Subscribers  for 
our  Selves  and  familyes  Humbly  Shew- 
eth,  That  your  Petitioners  have  always 
Laboured  under  Greate  Difficalties  Re- 
specting our  attending  upon  the  Publick 
Worship  of  God — ye  nearest  of  us  Living 
near  four  Miles  from  the  Publick  Meet- 
ing. Houses  to  which  we  belong  and  in  a 
corner  of  The  Parrishes  Inhabited  So  that 
by  Reason  of  the  Distance  & Difficalty  of 
passing  Especially  in  the  Winter  Season, 
it  is  Freequently  impracticable  for  us  and 
families  to  attend  the  Public  Worship  att 
our  own  Meeting  Houses  (as  no  doubt 
Gentlemen  you  are  Sensible)  & so  have 
been  obliged  either  to  Tarry  at  Home  or 
attend  with  you  att  Topsfield,  where,  Al- 
tho  we  must  have  been  Burthensome  yet 
we  are  always  Ready  to  acknowledge  we 
have  been  Treated  with  much  kindness 
& Respect,  & also  Respecting  the  Gram- 
mar or  any  other  Public  Town  School  for 
ye  Instruction  of  our  Children.  Such  is 
our  Situation  that  we  can  have  no  advan- 


tage therefrom,  unless  we  Board  out  our 
Children,  which  Inconveniency,  with  some 
others  not  Menshoned,  we  Humbly  con- 
seive  might  be  in  a Greate  Measure  Rem- 
edied by  our  being  with  our  Estates  (a- 
greeable  to  a plan  herewith  Exhibited) 
Sett  off  from  ye  Town  of  Ipswich  & an- 
nexed to  ye  Town  of  Topsfield,  we  there- 
fore Humbly  Pray  that  you  woud  Take 
our  Case  under  your  Consideration  and 
Pass  a Vote  To  Receive  us  our  families 
and  all  ye  Lands  within  ye  plan  afore- 
menshoned  to  be  annexed  to  ye  Town  of 
Topsfield  to  be  part  and  Percel  thereof  & 
to  do  Duty  and  Receive  Privilege  therein: 
Provided  the  Town  of  Ipswich  agree 
thereto  & the  Greate  and  General  Court 
Confirm  ye  same,  & if  ye  Town  of  Ipswich 
Refuse  to  Sett  us  off,  Join  with  us  in  Pe- 
titioning to  ye  Great  and  General  Court 
to  Sett  us  off  to  your  Town,  and  your  Pe- 
titioners as  in  Duty  Bound  Shall  Ever 
Pray. 

Thos.  Cummings, 

Joseph  Cumings,  Juner, 
John  Lampson  ye  Third. 


Joseph  Comeings, 
John  Lampson,  Junr., 
Israel  Clarke, 
Jabez  Ross, 


Uniform  of  Warren  Bettes 


JFopsfield  Warren  Blues 


19 


Old  Time  Massachusetts  Independent  Infantry. 


By  Benjamin  J.  Balch. 


The  great  merit  of  the  Topsfield  War 
ren  Blues  as  a military  company,  and  the 
great  esteem  with  which  the  people  re- 
garded their  infantry,  deserves  that  its 
history  should  have  been  confided  to  abler 
hands.  If  the  work  which  is  here  pre- 
sented contains  any  merit  it  should  in 
justice  be  ascribed  to  the  subject  alone. 
Its  numerous  defects  the  author  can  im- 
pute to  no  one  but  himself. 

The  interest  which  was  taken  in  form- 
ing infantry  companies  sixty  years  ago 
was  not  confined  to  this  locality  alone. 
Almost  every  town  in  the  commonwealth 
had  its  favorite  independent  infantry. 
The  amusements  of  the  people  were  cen 
tied  mainly  in  the  training  days  which 
brought  out  the  gay  uniforms,  shining 
equipments  and  the  animating  march  and 
drill  of  the  soldiers  to  the  sound  of  mar- 
tial music. 

The  amu>ements  and  habits  of  the 
people  sixty  years  ago  were  very  differ- 
ent from  those  ot  the  present  day.  More 
hours  were  given  to  labor  every  day 
through  the  year,  boys  were  given  scarce- 
ly a holiday  through  the  year  unless  it 
was  when  the  wonderful  training  day 
came  round.  In  contrasting  the  habit- 
of  the  people  in  those  days  with  one 
whose  memory  goes  back  to  that  period 
he  says  “I  remember  well  the  single  holi- 
day given  me  lor  the  yea**  to  go  to 
Georgetown  to  see  the  parade  of  the  Box 
ford  Washington  Guards  and  Topsfield 
Warren  Blues.  After  my  morning  chores 
upon  the  farm  were  done,  with  six  cents 
given  me  for  spending  money,  which  I 
counted  a great  sum,  I ran  all  the  way  to 
Georgetown,  seven  miles, without  resting 
so  as  to  get  there  in  season  to  hear  the 
first  drum  beat.  I have  a recollection 
also,  he  says,  of  an  experience  that  day 


of  a serious  nature.  With  three  of  my 
six  cents  given  me  for  spending  money  I 
bought  an  orange.  My  other  three  cents 
I laid  up  for  sale  keeping.  My  orange  I 
ate  peel  and  all,  which  made  me  so  sick 
that  it  gives  me  a painful  sensation  even 
ao w to  think  of  it.” 

The  prudent  habits  in  childhood  of 
Dean  Peiiey,  which  was  the  boy’s  name, 
followed  him  in  after  years.  He  has  been 
a successful  man  in  his  business  in  the 
neighboring  town  ol  Danvers  and  is  now 
hale  and  jolly  as  he  was  fifty-five  years 
ago  when  he  ran  through  the  woods  of 
Boxford  to  get  earlv  on  the  training 
ground.  The  training  day  then  was 
about  all  that  brought  the  people  togeth- 
er, old  or  young,  except  the  always  fully 
attended  church  on  Sunday.  In  contrast 
with  the  condition  of  society  at  that  time 
we  now  have  some  half  a dozen  secret 
orders  besides  numerous  other  oiganiza- 
tions,  the  public  libiary  and  the  Sun- 
day newspaper.  With  all  these  provisions 
for  the  intellectual,  moral  and  religious 
welfare  of  the  people,  it  is  somewhat 
doubtful  if  the  conditions  of  the  people 
are  greatly  advanced  Irom  what  they 
were  sixty  yea  is  ago. 

The  chief  motive  of  forming  the  Iman- 
try  company,  says  Mr.  Wm.  E.  Kimball, 
one  of  the  pr  ime  movers  in  the  enter- 
prise, was  for  the  fun  of  it.  Military 
drill,  discipline  and  march  to  the  sound 
of  martial  music  was  a joyous  excitement. 
The  gay  uniforms,  the  shining  equipages 
and  the  name  of  Infantry  added  to  the 
interest.  Back  of  it  all  the  inspiring 
motive — the  spirit  of  oatriotism. 

The  captain  of  the  old  Militia,  Nathan- 
iel Conant.,  who  was  to  be  captain  ol  the 
Infantry,  was  an  officer  in  whom  they  all 
could  take  pride.  He  was  then  in  the 


20 


prime  of  life, being  40  years  of  age,  of  fine 
military  bearing  and  possessed  a thor- 
ough knowledge  of  the  art  military,  a 
quality  which  he  inherited  from  his  great 
ancestor,  Roger  Conant.  Bancroft,  speak- 
ing of  Conant  in  his  history, says  “he  was 
a mao  of  extraordinary  vigor.  Inspired 
as  if  by  some  superior  instinct  he  suc- 
ceeded in  breathing  his  sublime  courage 
into  his  three  companions,  and  they  re- 
solved to  remain  at  the  hazard  of  their 
lives  as  sentinels  of  the  birth  of  Ameri- 
can freedom.” 

“The  Topsfield  Warren  Blues  was  or- 
ganized, June  1836.” 

This  is  the  wording  of  record  kept  by 
A.  S.  Peabody,  clerk  of  the  company, 
which  is  the  only  writing  found  among 
his  papers  which  has  any  reference  to 
the  company.  The  person  who  came  in 
possession  of  the  record  book  of  the  com- 
pany after  it  was  disbanded,  regarded  it 
of  no  value  and  it  became  torn  and  de- 
faced aod  finally  it  weut  to  the  waste 
basket.  Independent  Infantry  companies 
are  not  registered  at  the  State  department. 
We  are  indebted  to  the  kindness  of  Mr. 
John  H.  Towne  for  a copy  of  papers  re- 
lating to  the  company  which  he  had  pre- 
served from  his  father’s  papers,  who  was 
a member  of  the  company.  They  read  as 
follows 

Topsfield,  Aug.  26,  1835. 
To  Mr.  Benjamin  B.  Towne: 

Your  first  assessment  for  uniform  and 
equipments  is  $20.00  which  you  are  re 
quested  to  pay  to  the  clerk  of  the  Light 
Infantry  on  or  before  the  12th  of  Septem- 
ber next. 

Per  order  of  standing  committee, 

William  E.  Kimball,  Chairman. 

Topsfield,  Sept.  10,  1836. 

Received  of  Benjamin  B.  Towne  the 
sum  of  $20.00,  it  being  his  first  assess- 
ment for  uniform  and  equipments. 

A.  S.  Peabody,  Clerk. 

Topsfield,  Sept.  28,  1836. 

Received  of  Benjamin  B.  Towne  the 
sum  of  $20.00,  it  being  his^  second  and 
third  assessments  for  a uniform  and 
equipments. 

A.  S.  Peabody, Clerk. 

Topsfield,  Nov.  16,  1837. 

You  being  duly  enrolled  as  a member 


ot  the  T.  W.  Blues  are  hereby  directed  to 
appear  in  citizen’s  dress  at  Capt.  William 
Mundav’s  Tavern  on  Thursday,  the  16th 
of  November,  at  one  o’clock  to  choose  a 
Lieutenant  and  flii  all  vacancies  that  may 
appear  or  occur. 

Per  order  of  commander. 

A.  S.  Peabody,  Clerk. 

What  further  items  we  have  gathered 
of  the  history  of  the  company  we  learn 
from  the  few  members  ot  the  company 
now  living,  and  from  various  other 
sources.  We  are  cautioned,  however, not 
to  rely  too  much  upon  memory  or  tradi- 
tion to  frame  a history.  Yet  we  have 
some  warrant  in  standing  fast  and  hold- 
ing to  the  memory  and  tradition  of  the 
Elders.  The  finest  literary  productions 
the  world  has  evar  known,  which  form  a 
part  of  the  classic  literature  taught  in 
our  schools,  were  transmitted  down  by 
memory  from  generation  to  generation, 
ages  before  the  invention  of  the  alphabet. 
“Memory  was  the  mother  of  the  muses,” 
their  language  the  songs  of  the  minstrel. 
To  memory  alone  we  owe  the  preserva- 
tion of  those  lofty  strains  of  poetic  in- 
spiration as  they  were  transmitted  down 
those  far  off  ages. 

In  the  preliminary  arrangements  for 
the  formation  of  the  Infantry  company 
there  occurred  an  incident  which  caused 
great  division  in  the  company,  and  came 
well  nigh  breaking  up  the  organization. 
It  was  then  toward  the  latter  part  of 
President  Jackson’s  second  term  of  office 
and  political  excitement  was  running 
high.  Jackson  had  been  chiefly  noted  dur- 
ing his  administration  for  coercing  the 
rebellious  spirit  of  South  Carolina  into 
obedience,  and  for  destroying  the  United 
States  Bank.  This  administration  had 
also  been  noted  for  being  .rather  expen- 
sive in  comparison  with  the  preceding 
one  under  John  Quincy  Adams.  The  per- 
son who  had  been  selected  by  the  ladies 
to  purchase  the  banner  with  an  appropri- 
ate motto,  was  a staunch  Adams  man  or 
Whig,  as  the  party  was  called.  He  con- 
ceived the  idea  that  patriotic  principles 
might  be  represented  ou  the  banner  even 
if  there  was  a slight  hint  at  the  politics 
of  the  times.  The  yearly  expense  of  the 
government  under  the  Adams  adminis- 
tration had  been  thirteen  million  dollars, 


21 


i hat  of  Jackson  thirty-nine  million. 
Upon  one  side  of  the  bauner  was  to  be 
painted  the  portrait  of  Warren  under- 
neath the  words  “To  die  for  ones’  country 
is  both  sweet  and  honorable.”  Upon  the 
other  side  of  the  banner  it  was  to  read 
“From  13  million  to  39  million.”  The 
object  of  this  was  to  show  the  contrast 
iu  the  expense  of  the  government  under 
a Whig  administration  and  under  a Dem- 
ocratic. Luke  R.  Prince  of  Beverly,  a 
celebrated  painter,  was  eugaged  to  do 
the  woik.  The  committee  man  kept  his 
counsel  and  watched  for  the  banner.  In 
due  time  the  beautiful  siik  banner  came 
with  the  portrait  of  Warren  painted  on 
one  side  as  directed,  on  the  other  side 
no  13  million  to  39  appeared,  but  instead 
the  picture  of  a donkey  with  stubborn 
disposition  depicted  on  his  countenance. 
Here  was  mischief.  Who  did  this?  Where 
did  this  work  come  Irom?  was  demanded 
by  every  member  of  the  company.  No 
one  could  explain,  but  there  was  suspi- 
cion that  certain  Democrats  in  the  com- 
pany were  “iu  it.”  There  was  such  dis- 
cord that  it  appeared  the  company  would 
disband  at  ouce.  It  was  then  but  a few 
days  to  the  time  Uxed  for  the  formal  cer- 
emony of  presenting  the  banner  to  the 
company.  Arrangements  were  nearly 
completed,  nearly  twu  thousand  dollars 
had  been  expended  lor  uniforms  and 
equipments,  co&tiug  each  member  $40, 
and  the  bright  and  glorious  prospects  of 
the  company  had  apparently  come  to  an 
eud;but,  in  the  midst  of  discord  and 
co nlusiou,a  faint  ray  of  light  was  allowed 
to  break  in  ou  the  darkuess.  From  some 
uuknown  source  came  word  that  the 
motto  ou  the  banner  originated  from  no 
member  of  the  company.  This  changed 
the  aspect  of  affairs.  In  their  glow  ol 
patriotism  no  one  wished  to  disband  the 
company  ii  it  could  be  avoided.  As  the 
matter  was  explained  they  began  to  look 
on  the  affair  as  a huge  joke.  It  finally 
settled  down  that  the  Democrats,  or 
Locofocos,  as  they  were  called,  were  sat- 
isfied with  the  picture,  as  a donkey  stood 
for  firmness  which  trait  in  this  animal 
they  regarded  as  representing  Jackson’s 
character,  while  the  Whigs  said  the 
picture  was  a fair  resemblance  of  an  ape, 
an  animal  which  they  regarded  Jackson 


resembled  both  in  looks  and  character. 
Iu  this  construction  of  the  matter  the 
subject  rested,  every  one  enjoying  his 
o .vn  conclusions. 

Long  time  afterward  it  came  to  light 
that  the  inevitable  clown  in  the  drama  of 
affairs  in  town,  either  secular  or  sacred, 
had  put  his  foot  into  the  subject.  He  had 
gained  access  to  the  painter  of  the  banner 
in  behalf  of  the  committee  for  the  pur- 
pose of  making  a change  in  the  motto. 
It  may  be  supposed  the  painter  readily 
complied  with  the  request, as  he  also  was 
a Democrat  or  Locofoco.  For  prudent 
reasons  it  is  thought  best  that  the  name 
of  the  chief  conspirator  iu  this  affair  be 
withheld  till  a certain  event  transpires, 
which,  iu  the  course  of  nature,  sooner  or 
later  comes  to  all.  Evarything  was  now 
bustle  and  stir  in  preparation  for  the 
formal  reception  of  the  banner.  The 
Boxtord  Washington  Guards,  William 
Low,  commander,  weie  invited  to  be 
present  on  the  occasion.  The  celebrated 
Boston  Brass  Band,  Joseph  Green, leader, 
was  engaged  for  the  day.  This  was  the 
band  which  was  led  at  oue  time  by  the 
celebrated  performer  ou  the  bugle,  Ned 
Kendal,  and  later  by  Arthur  Hall.  Mr. 
Hall  had  a gold  bugle  presented  to  him 
as  a compliment  to  his  great  merit  as  a 
periormer  on  the  bugle.  This  was  before 
the  gold  basis  excitement,  other  than 
what  was  caused  by  the  gold  iu  this  lare 
instrument-  The  banuer  was  to  be  pre- 
sented to  the  company  (with  an  appro- 
priate address)  by  oue  of  Topsfield’s  fair- 
est daughters,  Miss  Sally  Muuday,  who 
was  choseu  for  this  duty  by  the  ladies  of 
i he  town. 

The  mode  of  travelling  long  distances 
in  those  days  was  by  stage.  This  occa- 
sion was  two  years  previous  to  the  open- 
lug  of  the  railroad  for  travel  between 
Boston  and  Salem.  The  Boston  Brass 
Band  therefore  must  come  to  Topsfleld 
by  stage.  A stage  ride  from  Boston  to 
Topsfleld  was  an  adventure  which  few  in 
these  years  would  care  to  undertake.  It 
was  run  or  trot  the  horses  all  the  dis- 
tance up  hill  and  down  from  start  to  fin- 
ish. The  relays  between  Boston  and 
Newburypoit  were  at  Lyunfield  and  at 
Gumming-’  in  Topsfleld.  The  names  of 
Meudon,  Piukham,  Tuttle  and  Conant  are 


22 


familiar  to  the  older  people  whose  mem- 
ory goes  back  to  those  joyous  days  as  the  I 
gallant  stage  drivers  who  passed  daily  j 
over  the  Turnpike  between  Boston  and 
Newburyport.  The  sensation  they 
caused  among  the  young  people  is  re-  : 
membered  as  they  reined  into  town  four 
in  hand  blowing  their  stage  horns  as  the 
signal  of  approach.  Great  was  the  com- 
motion at  Cummings’  on  hearing  the 
sound  of  the  stage  horn.  The  clattering 
of  dishes  and  glasses;  the  delicious  odor 
of  rich  viands  and  cordials  betokened  the 
bounteous  table  always  to  be  found  at 
Cummings’ Hotel.  This  celebrated  hos- 
telry became  the  favorite  resort  of  the 
Warren  Blues  on  many  a festive  occa- 
sion in  after  years.  It  is  remembered  j 
that  a learned  parrot  lived  for  many  j 
years  in  the  oarroom  at  this  place.  When 
the  parrot  heard  the  sound  of  the  stage 
horn  he  always  gave  notice  to  the  trusty 
mao  of  affairs  in  a loud,  distinct  voice, 
saying  “Uncle  Jones,  stage  coming”  and 
to  the  faithful  cook,  “Granny  Bowdoin, 
get  dinner,  stage  comijg.”  On  the  oc- 
casion of  the  presentation  of  the  banner 
to  the  Warren  Blues  the  extra  stages! 
which  brought  the  band  from  Boston 
were  to  stop  at  the  new  Hotel  kept  by 
Captaiu  William  Munday.  It  was  this 
Captain’s  daughter  who  was  to  deliver 
the  address  and  present  the  banner  to  the 
new  company.  Captain  Munday  gained 
his  commission  in  the  government  ser- 
vice as  captain  of  a company  of  Cavaliy. 
This  company  had  then  been  sometime 
disbanded.  The  last  time  they  met  for 
choice  of  officers,  which  was  at  Newbury 
port,  the  company  had  dwindied  down  lo 
so  few  in  number  that  it  took  the  whole 
company  to  fill  the  offices  except  one 
man.  The  officers  took  pity  on  the  poor 
lone  trooper  and  b.jgan  to  cast  about  to 
make  him  an  office.  “Don’t  trouble  your- 
selves,” said  Thomas  Moore,  the  troop- 
er’s name,  “I  had  rather  be  a whole  com- 
pany than  one  single  officer.” 

Early  on  Thursday,  the  27th  of  October, 
1836,  strangers  begai  to  gather  into  i he 
little  town  nestled  away  among  the  hills 
where  freedom  had  its  birth,  and  soon  a 
great  multitude  thronged  the  village. 
This  was  the  day  the  Infantry  company 
was  to  receive  its  banner;  the  place 


appointed  for  the  reception  was  on  the 
compass  in  from  of  the  Academy.  The 
armory  of  the  company  was  in  the  acad- 
emy building.  Early  in  the  morning  the 
company  met  at  their  armory,  from 
whence  they  marched  to  the  Boxford 
line  and  escort,  d the  Boxford  Washing- 
ton Guards  to  the  elegant  mansion  of 
their  generous  townsman,  Asa  Pingree, 
Esq.,  where  they  partook  of  a splendid 
collation.  At  two  o’clock  General  Lowe, 
Major  Stone,  the  two  companies  and  in- 
vited guests  dined  at  Captain  Munday’s 
Hotel.  They  were  served  with  a most 
sumptuous  dinner.  These  munificent  tok- 
ens of  respect, so  politely  and  gratuitous- 
ly tendered,  excited  the  gratitude  of  all 
who  partook  of  such  liberal  enteitain- 
ment.  After  dinner  the  two  companies, 
with  the  citizens  joining,  were  escorted 
by  the  Brass  Band  to  the  grounds  in 
front  of  the  Academy.  Miss  Sally  Mun- 
day, then  coming  forward  and  standing 
on  the  steps  of  the  building  arrayed  in 
white,  the  flag  in  her  right  hand,  ad- 
dressed the  company  in  these  words:  — 

“Soldiers:  It  is  with  patriotic  pride  in 
the  name  of  the  ladies  of  Topsfield  I pre- 
sent you  this  banner  and  bid  you  emulate 
the  virtues  and  military  talent  of  the  un- 
dauuted  Warren,  whose  name  you  have 
chosen.  Should  the  Independence  ever 
be  endangered,  which  he  and  his  associ- 
ates gained  for  you,  may  you  arm  with 
the  same  zeal  and  conquer  in  the  cause 
of  freedom.  Who  among  you  will  shrink 
from  following  this  standard  in  defense 
of  his  country  and  his  home?  Who  will 
refuse  to  make  himself  a supporter  of  the 
liberty  so  nobly  gained  by  the  heroes  of 
t^e  Revolution,  and  who,  as  the  silken 
folds  of  this  unstained  pennant  are  cast 
to  the  free  air  of  Heaven,  will  forget  that 
God  arms  the  hand  and  shields  the 
heart  of  the  patriot?  In  this  faith  may  you 
ever  be  found  amid  the  guardians  which 
Heaven  sends  to  protect  the  freedom  of 
our  happy  land.  Mav  you  never  rally 
round  this  banner  staff  save  in  a rightful 
cause.” 

The  address  was  given  with  that  grace 
of  manner  and  force  of  expression,  which 
called  forth  the  loud  cheers  of  the  people. 
After  the  response  by  the  band,  Captain 
Nathaniel  Conant  replied  to  the  address 


23 


as  follows : 

“Madam  : In  the  name  of  the  Topsfield 
Warren  Blues  we  gratefully  accept  and 
tender  our  most  respectful  acknowledge- 
ment to  the  ladies  of  Topsfield  for  this 
very  beautiful  standard.  We  hope  the 
name  we  have  selected  for  our  corps  will 
ever  prompt  us  to  deeds  of  valor,  and 
that  in  the  service  or  our  country  we 
shall  always  follow  without  shaming  the 
immortal  image  borne  upon  this  flag,  and 
our  homes, ever  dear, will  possess  new  and 
increased  value  from  the  manifestations 
which  the  ladies  of  Topsfield  have  beeu 
pleased  to  make  to  us  in  regard  to  our 
corps.  We  profess  to  train  and  prepare 
ourselves  for  the  protection  of  virtue,  the 
defense  of  liberty  and  independence,  the 
security  of  our  institutions,  civil,  literary 
and  religious,  relying  for  aid  in  such  im- 
portant duties  upon  a continuance  ot 
your  favorable  regards  and  the  smiles  of 
Heaven ; and  hope  we  shall  be  ready  at 
all  times  to  adopt  the  motto  inscribed  on 
our  banner,  “To  die  for  one’s  country  is 
both  sweet  and  honorable.”  The  address 
of  Capt.  Conant  was  also  received  with 
great  aoplause. 

After  the  banner  was  received.  Capt 
Conant  placed  it  in  the  hand  of  William 
E.  Kimball,  who  had  been  chosen  bearer 
of  the  banner  by  the  company.  General 
Lowe  then  gave  asentiment  in  which  he 
most  happily  alluded  to  the  protection 
the  ladies  so  justly  merited  from  the 
soldiers  and  citizens  of  our  happy  and 
glorious  Republic.  In  the  evening  the 
lovers  of  music  were  entertained  at  the 
hotel  in  the  most  pleasing  manner  by 
the  performances  of  the  band.  There 
was  also  a grand  ball  that  evening  at 
Cummings’. 

The  day  was  fine  and  the  whole  exhibi- 
tion was  brilliant  and  gratifying.  To  be 
definite  concerning  the  apparel  of  the 
fair  orator  for  the  occasion,  her  dress 
was  white  muslin, low  neck, short  sleeves, 
blue  trimmings  and  long  mitts.  Not  long 
after  this  eventful  day  Miss  Munday  was 
married  to  the  Lieutenant  of  the  com- 
pany, Lemuel  Holten  Gould,  whom  it  is 
said  she  captured  on  this  occasion  and 
held  him  her  prisoner.  Lieutenant  Gould 
was  afterward  promoted  captaiu  of  the 
company,  Capt.  Conant  being  promoted 


Maj.  of  Brigade.  We  are  indebted  to  the 
daughter  of  Mrs.  Gould,  Mrs.  Ann  Gould 
Ferguson,  for  a copy  of  the  address. 
Many  incidents  of  interest  occurred  dur- 
ing the  day  in  connection  with  the  cele- 
bration, but  the  space  which  is  allotted 
for  this  paper  will  uot  permit  us  to  make 
record.  We  shall  therefore  pass  to  a few 
of  the  prominent  points  of  interest  in 
connection  with  this  company. 

The  music  employed  by  the  company 
for  regular  duty, or  the  company  band  so- 
called,  is  of  next  importance  to  the  com- 
pany itself.  This  band  was  composed  of 
seven  members,  called  the  McKenzie 
Band,  part  of  the  members  belonging  in 
West  Ipswich  or  Firetown,  so  called,  and 
part  in  Topsfield.  The  leader  of  the 
band,  Alfred  McKenzie,  played  B flat 
bugle.  This  was  before  the  invention  of 
the  cornet  of  latter  days.  It  appears  by 
the  scriptures  there  was  an  instrument 
that  went  bv  that  name  several  thousand 
years  ago.  Addison  McKenzie, a brother  of 
Alfred,  also  played  B flat  bugle.  Samuel 
McKenzie,  brother,  played  trombone  ; Jo- 
seph Chapman, clarionet ; William  Spiller, 
fife ; John  B.  Lake,  son  of  Silas  Lake  who 
many  years  ago  was  a famous  player  on 
snare  drum,  played  bass  drum;  and  Eph- 
raim Averill  played  on  the  snare  drum. 
For  a country  baud  in  those  days  it  was 
considered  good  music.  If  the  Boston 
brass  band  excelled  in  practice,  the  Mc- 
Kenzie band  was  not  wanting  in  the 
knowledge  of  the  theory  of  music.  For 
genius  and  quaint  originality  of  charac- 
ter, some  of  the  members  of  this  band 
were  greatly  distinguished.  They  weie 
greatly  liked  bv  the  Warren  Blues  and 
continued  to  be  the  company’s  band  so 
long  as  they  preserved  their  organization. 
Out  of  the  seven  members  of  the  band, 
four  are  stili  living,  all  over  eighty  years 
of  age,  Ephraim  Averill,  Alfred  McKen- 
zie, Joseph  Chapman  and  William  Spiller. 
Out  of  the  whole  company,  36  when  or- 
ganized, five  only  are  living.  In  contrast 
it  speaks  favorably  for  the  profession  of 
a musician  so  far  as  it  pertains  to  length 
of  days.  Mr.  Joseph  Chapman,  to  whom 
I am  indebted  for  much  information  con- 
cerning the  band  and  company,  is  re- 
markably well  preserved  for  a man  of  his 
age.  In  speaking  with  him  a few  days 


ago  of  iDcidents  in  connection  with  the 
presentation  of  the  flag,  said  he,  “I  think 
I can  recall  some  of  the  first  part  of  Miss 
Munda.v’s  address.  Wasn’t  it  something 
this  way,  ‘Soldiers  : It  is  with  patriotic 
pride  I present  you  this  banner?’  ” These 
words  were  accurately  remembered  by 
Mr.  Chapman  after  merely  hearing  them 
uttered  uearlv  sixty  years  ago. 

Incidents  of  interest  which  happened 
on  training  days  are  remembeied  by  the 
old  people  and  told  with  greateujov ment. 
It  was  on  the  day  of  Brigade  muster, 
which  occurred  in  Top-field  in  the  fall  of 
1839  or  1810.  The  field  appropriated  for 
this  purpose  was  the  land  where  now  are 
the  resilences  of  Mrs.  Herrick,  Miss  Ray 
and  Frederick  Merriam,  extending  back 
as  far  as  the  land, of  Mrs.  Kimball’s.  From 
this  place  up  to  Captain  Muuday’s  Hotel, 
on  that  day  the  ground  was  covered  with 
gambling  tables,  roulette,  dice  and  other 
gambling  inventions.  The  crowd  that 
occupied  these  tables  was  chiefly  from 
Boston.  Money  in  great  abuudauce  was! 
seen  on  the  tables  and  rapidly  changing 
hands  from  one  to  another.  As  it  wa>j 
exposed  to  public  view  it  greatly  annoyed 
the  citizens  of  the  town.  Iu  the  after- 
noon, as  soon  as  the  companies  were  dis- 
missed, a platoon  of  the  Warreu  Blues 
was  seen  charging  on  the  double  quick 
in  the  diiection  of  the  gambl'ng  tables. 
In  an  instant,  dice,  roulette  tables,  money 
and  all  were  overturned  and  rolling  in  a 
broken  mass  on  theground.  Thegambleis 
fled  for  their  lives.  This  incident  reflect 
ed  great  credit  on  the  Warren  Blues  and 
made  them  respected  by  every  citizen  in 
the  town.  It  was  a custom,  as  has  been 
observed,  for  the  Warren  Blues  on  train- 
ing days  to  visit  Cummings  Hotel  situat- 
ed upon  the  turnpike.  It  was  a pleasant 
march  there  as  there  was  a fine  view  at 
that  place  of  the  surrouoding  couutry. 
They  were  on  their  return  on  this  partic- 
ular occasion  from  this  hospitable  resort, 
when  the  old  militia  company,  which  was 
obliged  by  law  to  come  out  at  May  train- 
ing, had  formed  on  the  common  and  wer  e 
on  the  march  towards  the  same  resort 
which  the  Warren  Blues  had  just  visited. 
There  was  some  feeling  existing  between 
the  two  companies  caused  partly  by  the 
contrast  in  the  uniforms  and  equipage, 


| partly  by  the  great  crowd  which  followed 
the  Infantry  showing  by  this  their  par 
tialit.y  to  the  gav  uniforms.  On  the  level 
ground  near  the  brook,  where  the  two 
companies  were  to  pass  each  other,  was 
a large  puddle  ol  water  which  was 
caused  by  the  recent  rains  and  the  forma- 
tion of  the  road,  which  was  made  in 
that  place  to  hold  the  water.  Such  a 
place  is  not  a rare  thing  in  these  days. 
It  was  noticed  before  reaching  the  spot 
where  they  were  to  pass;  a member  of 
the  militia  company  stepped  from  the 
ranks  and  took  a stone  from  the  wall  and 
concealed  it  under  his  coat.  When  they 
were  just  opposite  the  water  the  man 
threw  the  stone  w'th  great  force  into  the 
water,  which  splashed  the  mud  and  water 
over  many  of  the  gay  uniforms.  This 
brought  out  a rousing  cheer  from  the 
militia.  In  conversing  with  an  old  lady, 
wife  of  one  of  the  infantry,  she  says  “yon 
can’t  think  how  much  work  it  cost  us  to 
keep  those  uniforms  clean.  Every  time 
they  trained,”  she  said,  “we  had  to  re- 
move the  red  stripe  from  the  white  trou- 
ses  (she  called  them  trouses,)  as  the  red 
would  mix  in  with  the  white  if  wastnd 
[together,  and  we  had  to  take  off  all  the 
buttons  from  the  coats  to  scour  them.  It 
was  a deal  of  work,  but,”  she  said,  “we 
wimmen  enjoyed  looking  at  the  soldiers, 
all  the  same.”  There  really  was  no  per- 
sonal feeling  between  the  members  of 
[the  two  companies.  The  man  who  threw 
I the  stone  that  splashed  the  mud  on  the 
uniforms  was  one  of  the  best  friends  of 
j the  Infantry.  He,  like  many  others  of 
the  militia,  contributed  generously  to 
their  support.  He  gave  them  on  the  oc- 
casion of  their  organization  his  peculiar 
-mm,  which  he  gave  for  special  objects, 
$33.33  1 3 and  managed  some  way  to  make 
the  change  himself.  He  was  no  other  thau 
Asa  Pingree,  who  entertained  them  so 
geneiously  at  his  mansion  on  the  occasion 
of  the  reception  of  their  banner. 

For  want  of  time  we  can  merely  allude 
to  the  sham  fight  at  the  Brigade  muster 
in  Boxford,  in  the  fall  of  1838.  which  re- 
flected great  credit  on  the  discipline  of 
the  Warren  Blues,  also  their  visit  at 
Bunker  Hill,  4th  of  July,  1842,  on  the 
occasion  of  celebrating  the  completion  of 
Bunker  Hill  monument,  Daniel  Webster 


25 


delivering  the  oration.  How  long  the 
organization  continued  we  have  no  rec- 
ord. Independent  companies  received  a 
bounty  of  five  dollars  a soldier.  In  1845 
they  received  the  last  bounties  of  which 
they  have  a record.  About  this  time  the 
law  providing  for  this  bounty  was  re- 
pealed and  the  company  disbanded. 

We  now  come  to  that  part  of  the  his- 
tory of  the  company  of  chiefest  import- 
ance. What  mean  the  letters  on  that  cap 
and  knapsack.  T.  W.  B.,  Topsfield  War- 
ren Blues?  What  did  the  name  of  War- 
ren signify  to  that  company?  What  does 
the  name  of  Warren  signify  to  us?  In 
answer  to  this  question  we  point  to  the 
Nation.  There  she  is— behold  her  ! 

As  we  consider  the  many  millions  that 
have  been  affected  by  the  name  Warren, 
the  increasing  millions  who  are  yet  to 
follow,  it  is  tittiug  to  note  if  we  are  guid- 
ed by  the  same  compass  that  directed 
that  great  leader  in  the  principles  that 
laid  the  foundation  of  the  Great  Repub- 
lic. In  the  library  of  the  state  depart- 
ment is  a volume  of  manuscripts  of  great 
value.  They  are  the  original  responses 
sent  by  the  Massachusetts  towns  to  the 
committee  of  correspondence,  Samuel 
Adams,  Joseph  Warren  and  James  Otis, 
who  had  asked  the  people  to  convene  to- 
gether and  express  their  feelings  and 
opinion  in  regard  to  the  infringements  of 
Parliament  on  the  rights  of  the  people, 
so  that,  in  the  answers  returned,  the  col 
lected  wisdom  and  fortitude  of  the  whole 
people  might  dictate  measures  for  the 
rescue  of  their  happy  and  glorious  con- 
stitution.” One  of  those  papers  is  from 
Topsfield  sigued  by  Captain  Samuel 
Smith,  Captain  John  Boardman  and  Dea- 
con John  Gould,  a committee  chosen  by 
the  town  to  forward  their  answer. 

We  honor  and  revere  the  men  of  the 
Revolution  for  their  bravery  in  the  hour 
of  battle,  but  their  courage  dates  back  to 
the  principles  which  inspired  them,  the 
preparation  for  the  coming  event.  The 
collected  wisdom  and  fortitude  of  the 
people,  as  expressed  through  these  papers 
from  the  different  towns,  Inspired  them 
with  courage  for  the  coming  conflict.  It 
laid  the  foundation  of  the  first  govern- 
ment of  the  people  on  the  earth,  created 
by  the  people  and  for  the  people.  It  was 


•sealed  in  the  blood  of  the  immortal  War- 
ren. Surrounding  that  great  spirit  are 
gathered  a great  multitude  who  have 
given  their  lives  to  defend  the  govern- 
ment that  the  Nation  might  live  and  not 
perish  from  the  earth.  As  we  dedicate 
this  evening  to  the  memory  of  our  patri- 
ot fathers,  it  is  fitting  that  we  renew 
our  vows  of  fidelity  to  the  principles  for 
which  they  gave  their  iflasty  full  measure 
of  devotion .” 


Roster  of  the  Company. 


Commissioned 
Capt.  Nathaniel  Conant  June  30,  1836 
Capt.  Lemuel  H.  Gould  Dec.  24,  1840 
1st  Lieut.  Nathaniel  Perley  June  30,  1836 
1st  Lieut.  Joel  Lake  Nov.  16, 1837 

1st  Lieut.  Thos.  P.  Munday  Dec.  24,  1840 
2d  Lieut.  Thos.  P.  Munday  May  27,  1840 
2d  Lieut.  Thomas  Gould  Dec.  24,  1840 

3d  Lieut.  Thomas  Gould  May  27,  1840 

Ensign  Joel  Lake  June  30,  1836 

Ensign  Nehemiah  Balch  Nov.  16,  1837 
Surgeon  Joseph  C.  Batchelder 
Surgeon’s  Mate,  Joseph  Lloyd  Wellington 
Chaplain,  Leonard  B.  Griffin 


Capt.  Nat’l  Conant  was  promoted  Sept 
7,  1840,  major  and  inspector  of  the  4th 
Brigade,  Mass.  Lt.  Infantry. 

Lieut.  Nat’l.  Perley  was  promoted  ma- 
jor Aug.  8,  1837,  Lieut.  Col.  Sept.  6,  1838, 
Colonel  Mar.  27,  1839  and  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral of  the  4th  Mass.  Light  Infantry  Sept. 
4,  1840. 


Adams,  Benjamin  F.  Came  from  N.  H. , 
was  a farmer  and  shoemaker,  built 
the  house  now  owned  by  Levi  Beal, 
removed  to  Reading,  Mass.,  about 
1875  and  died  there  in  1888,  aged  80. 

Adams,  Benjamin.  Came  from  Middle- 
ton,  Mass,  was  a shoemaker  by  trade, 
built  the  house  now  occupied  by  J.  J. 
Hardy,  was  popularly  known  as  “Lit- 
tle Ben.”  Died  in  Topsfield  in  1849, 
aged  36. 

Andrews,  Aaron  A.  Born  in  Topsfield, 
a butcher  by  trade  and  employed  by 
T.  P.  Munday,  enlisted  in  23d  Mass. 
Infantry,  but  was  never  mustered  in- 
to the  service.  Died  in  Topsfield  in 
1877,  aged  54. 


26 


Atkinson,  William  D.  Came  to  Tops- 
field  from  Lynu,  worsed  at  his  trade, 
house  painting,  for  a short  time  and 
removed  to  Boston. 

Averill,  Aaron  Perley.  Born  in  Tops 
field,  a shoemaker  by  trade,  removed 
to  Georgetown  and  died  there  in 
1865,  aged  55. 

Balch,  Nehemiah  Born  in  Topsfield  and 
died  there  in  1884,  aged  77.  Was  a 
shoe  mauulacturer,  served  the  town 
as  treasurer  aud  assessor,  was  eDsign 
of  the  company. 

Batchelder,  Joseph  Cummings.  Came 
from  Boxford,  was  an  excellent  phy- 
sician, i t- moved  to  Templeton,  Mass, 
in  1850  after  practicing  medicine  in 
Topsfield  nearly  fifteen  years;  he  was 
the  successor  of  Jeremiah  Stone,  M. 
D.,  who  removed  to  Proviucetown, 
Mass,  in  1836  Dr.  Batchelder  built 
the  house  now  owned  and  occupied 
by  John  Bailey ; he  was  representa- 
tive to  the  General  Corn  tin  1846, 
was  the  inventor  of  the  boring  ma- 
chine that  was  used  lor  a time  while 
the  Hoosac  Tunnel  was  being  con- 
structed, proving  at  that  time  a par- 
tial failure,  enlisted  as  surgeon  in  the 
23d  Mass.  Vols.,  but  saw  little  ser 
vice*  was  surgeon  of  the  company  of 
“Blues.” 

Bassett,  David.  Came  from  Gloucester 
and  learned  the  wheelwright’s  trade 
with  Thomas  K.  Leach,  removed  to 
Beverly  (?) 

Blaisdell,  James.  Born  in  Topsfield  and 
died  there  in  1856,  aged  32,  a shoe- 
maker by  trade. 

Brackett,  Charles  C.  Came  from  Wolf 
boro,  N.  H.,  was  a carpenter  by  trade 
and  ouilt  many  of  the  older  houses 
now  standing  in  town,  also  in  1848 
the  church  at  LinebrooK  parish.  He 
lived  in  town  about  ten  years  remov- 
ing to  Ipswich  in  1848  and  afterwards 
to  Quincy,  Mass.,  where  he  died 
about  1880.  Represented  the  town 
at  the  General  Court  in  1843. 

Bradstreet,  John.  Born  in  Topstield 
and  died  there  in  1847,  aged  36, was  a 
shoemaker, at  one  time  living  in  Box- 
ford. 

Bradstreet,  William.  Born  in  Tops- 
field, a farm-  r,  and  is  now  living  in 


Danvers. 

Chapman,  Edward  A.  He  was  a cabinet 
maker  by  trade  and  also  worked  as  a 
housepiimer.  Removed  to  Haverhill. 

Chapman,  John  K.  Came  from  Line- 
brook  Parish,  Ipswich,  shoemaker 
and  farmer.  Is  now  living  in  Ips- 
wich. 

Clark,  David.  Born  in  Topsfield  and 
died  there  in  1880,  aged  66.  Farmer. 
Selectman  for  a number  of  years. 

Conant,  Nathaniel.  Born  in  Topsfield 
and  died  there  in  1872,  aged  76.  Was 
captain  of  the  “Blues”  at  their  or- 
ganization, afterwards  being  promot- 
ed to  be  major  an  1 brigade  inspector 
of  the  4th  Brigade  Mass.  Light  In- 
fantry. H i represented  the  town 
twice  at  the  General  Court,  in  1854 
and  1863. 

Crowell,  Josiah.  C ime  from  Salem, 
was  a sli  jemaker  by  trade.  Died  in 
Topsfield  in  1889,  aged  85. 

Currier,  Moses  J.  Came  from  Enfield, 
N.  H.,  was  a clerk  in  F.  & N.  Perley’s 
geneial  store,  and  after  living  in 
town  about  three  years  removed  to 
Dauvers,  where  he  died  in  1892. 

Dodge,  Francis.  Lived  in  Hamilton, 
was  a farmer. 

Elliot,  Charles  A.  Boru  in  Topsfield, 
was  a stioemaker  and  farmer.  Re- 
moved to  Danvers  about  1855  and 
died  there  in  1895. 

Gallup,  William  Portek.  B >ru  in  Top- 
field  and  ditd  there  in  1890,  aged  80. 
Was  a shoe  bottom  finisher,  also  » n- 
gaged  in  ihe  undertaking  bu-iness 
for  a number  of  years,  built  the  house 
now  occupied  by  his  son  W.  W.  Gal- 
lup, was  sergeant  in  the  company. 

Gifford,  William  R.  Came  from  Salem, 
removed  to  the  stale  of  Nev  York  in 
1843  or  4.  Farmer. 

Gould,  A rial  H.  Born  in  Topsfield  and 
died  there  in  1879,  aged  61.  Carried 
on  a large  butchering  business,  was 
selectman  for  a number  of  years. 

Gould,  Charles.  Born  in  Topsfield, 
shoemaker.  Is  still  living. 

Gould,  Emerson  P.  Born  in  Topsfield. 
A schoolmaster  in  his  younger  days, 
afterwards  learning  the  butchering 
business.  Enlisted  in  the  48ih  Mass. 
Vols.,  and  died  in  the  hospital  at 


Baton  Rouge,  La.,  Juue  5,  1863, 
aged  51,  from  the  effects  of  aD  injury 
received  in  the  slaughter  house  con- 
nected with  the  army  headquarters. 

Gould,  Jonathan  Porter.  Born  in 
Topsfleld  and  died  there  in  1860,  aged 
46.  Carried  on  a large  butchering 
business. 

Gould,  Josiah  L.  Born  in  Topsfleld  and 
died  there  in  1880,  aged  63.  Was  a 
farmer,  built  the  house  now  owned 
by  Horace  Bradstreet. 

Gould,  Lemuel  Holton.  Born  in  Tops- 
field  in  1809,  farmer.  Weutto  Cali 
lornia  in  1858,  living  there  until  his 
death  at  Sacramento  in  1877.  Was 
captain  of  the  company  succeeding 
Capt.  Nathaniel  Conant  iu  1840. 

Gould,  Thomas.  Born  in  Topsfleld  and 
died  there  in  1882,  aged  75,  was  a 
farmer,  superintendent  of  the  alms- 
house for  nearly  12  years,  a select- 
man, and  represented  the  towu  at  the 
General  Court  in  1849.  Served  as 
2d  and  3d  lieutenant  of  the  company. 

Griffin,  Leonard  B.  A minister  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Born 
in  Connecticut,  came  to  Topsfleld 
from  Gloucester,  preached  in  Tops- 
field  in  1840-1,  a successful  charge, 
twenty  five  joining  the  church  while 
under  his  care.  From  Topsfleld  he 
went  to  Cambiidgeport;  was  chap- 
lain of  the  company. 

Hood,  John  Gould.  Born  in  Topsfleld 
and  died  there  in  1858,  aged  51.  Was 
an  able  school  master  in  his  younger 
days,  afierwards  a farmer  and  justice 
of  the  peace,  also  holding  many  offi 
ces  in  the  town  government.  For  a 
great  many  years  he  manufactured 
coffins,  supplying  Topsfleld  and  the 
adjoining  towus. 

Hubbard,  Humphrey  Gould.  Born  in 
Topsfleld  and  died  there  in  1847,  aged  | 
40.  Shoemaker. 

Janes,  Samuel.  Born  in  Salem  and  died 
in  Topsfleld  in  1873,  aged  71.  Was  a; 
shoemaker,  afterwards  engaging  in; 
the  express  business  between  Tops  j 
field  and  Salem,  carrying  it  on  about  | 
ten  years. 

Kimball,  Benjamin.  Born  in  Topsfleld 
and  died  there  in  1882,  aged  80.  Man- 
ufactured a high  grade  of  boots : was 


town  treasurer  1853-61. 

Kimball,  William  E.  Born  in  Tops- 
field,  carried  on  a blacksmithing  bus- 
iness in  his  earlier  days,  but  after- 
wards engaged  iu  the  grocery  and 
East  India  goods  business;  died  in 
Danvers,  Nov.,  1895,  aged 91. 

Lake,  David,  Jr.  Born  in  Topsfleld.  A 
farmer,  but  at  one  time  carried  on  a 
shoe  manufacturing  business,  became 
iofected  with  the  gold  fever  in  1852 
and  started  for  California  by  way  of 
the  Isthmus.  Reached  Panama  in 
safety  and  with  some  seventy  others 
chartered  a small  schooner  and  sailed 
for  San  Francisco.  The  vessel  was 
insufficiently  provisioned  and  nearly 
half  of  those  on  board  died  of  starva- 
tion and  found  a watery  grave.  The 
survivors  finally  reached  the  Califor- 
nia coast  and  after  spending  four 
years  in  the  state  Mr.  Lake  returned 
to  Topsfleld  April  4,  1859.  He  started 
for  California  a second  time  and  on 
the  28th  died  in  the  Pacific  ocean  on 
the  upward  voyage  from  Panama, 
aged  62. 

Lake,  Eleazer,  Jr.  Born  in  Topsfleld 
and  died  there  in  1867,  aged  57.  He 
was  a farmer  and  shoemaker;  was 
held  in  great  repute  as  a hunter. 

Lake,  John  Brown.  Born  in  Boston  and 
died  in  Boxf«>rd  in  1878, aged  61.  Was 
a farmer  and  shoemaker.  Started  for 
California  in  1852,  reached  Panama, 
but  was  unable  to  obtain  passage  for 
San  Francisco  and  returned  to  Tops- 
field.  Enlisted  in  the  23d  Mass.  Inf., 
was  base  drummer  in  McKenzie’s 
band. 

Lake,  Joel.  Born  in  Topsfleld  and  died 
there  in  1860,  aged  57.  Shoe  manu- 
facturer and  nurseryman. 

Lamson,  Josiah  B.  Born  in  Topsfleld 
and  died  there  in  1868  aged  53. 
Farmer. 

Lane,  Thomas  L.  Born  iu  Gloucester 
and  died  in  Top-field  iu  1856, aged  40. 
Was  a boot  and  shoe  manufacturer, 
selectman  for  many  years 

| Leacii,  Thomas  Kimball.  Came  from 
Wenham  and  died  in  Topsfleld  in 
1892,  aged  77.  Carried  on  a wheel- 
wright business  for  57  years. 

Lemont,  Stephen  W.  Came  from  hitch- 


28 


field,  Me.,  and  died  in  Topsfield  iQ 
1844  aged  27.  Was  a blacksmith. 

Lewis,  Frederick  A.  Came  from  Salem  : 
was  a sailor  by  profession  but  worked 
at  shoemaking,  at  one  time  sailed  in 
coasting  and  fishing  vessels.  The 
Gloucester  boat  of  which  he  was  first 
mate  was  lost  on  the  Grand  Banks, 
not  a man  returning  to  tell  the  tale. 

Long,  Henry.  Came  from  No.  Andover, 
Mass.,  and  died  in  Topsfield  in  1871, 
aged  52.  Blacksmith  and  stable  keep 
er.  He  at  one  time  framed  with  the 
Washington  Guards  of  Boxford. 

McKenzie,  Addison.  Born  in  Topsfield 
and  died  in  Dover,  N.  H.,  in  1856, 
aged  44.  He  was  a machinist  by 
trade;  played  B flat  bugle  in  McKen- 
zie’s baod. 

McKenzie,  Alfred.  Born  in  Topsfield 
and  is  now  living  in  Peabody.  Shoe 
manufacturer.  Leader  of  McKenzie’s 
baud,  playing  B flat  bugle. 

McKenzie,  Constantine.  Born  in  Tops- 
field, a carpenter  by  trade,  went  to 
California  in  1852  and  is  now  iiving 
in  San  Francisco. 

McKenzie,  Samuel  S.  Born  in  Tops 
field  and  died  there  in  1891,  aged  81. 
Civil  engineer  and  jeweller;  select- 
man and  representative  to  the  Gener- 
al Court  in  1852.  Played  trombone  in 
McKenzie's  band. 

Moore,  Thomas.  Born  in  Topsfield  and 
died  there  in  1868,  aged  66.  Butcher. 
Was  standard  bearer  of  the  company. 

M unday,  Thomas  P.  Born  in  Topsfield 
and  died  there  in  1862,  aged  45.  Car- 
ried on  a large  butchering  business, 
was  1st  and  2d  lieutenant  of  the 
company. 

Peabody,  Augustine  Simonds.  Born  in 
Topsfield  aud  died  there  in  1884, aged 
73.  Was  a school  teacher,  shoe  cut 
ter,  and  at  one  time  engaged  in  the 
stock  brokerage  business  in  Boston. 
For  nearly  forty  years  he  was  super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday  school  con- 
nected with  the  Congregational 
church.  Served  the  town  as  select- 
man for  nine  years ; was  orderly 
seargent  of  the  company. 

Peabody,  Francis  Dana.  Born  in  Tops- 
field and  died  in  Rowley  in  1891, aged 
75 ; bootmarker. 


Peabody,  Thomas,  Jr.  Born  in  Tops- 
field and  died  in  Georgetown  in  1872, 
aged  47.  Shoemaker.  Enlisted  iu  the 
23d  Mass.  VoK 

Peabody,  William  Cummings.  Born  in 
Topsfield  aud  is  now  living  in  Georg- 
towu.  Shoemaker.  At  the  present 
time  (1895)  is  the  oldest  fireman 
living  in  Mass. 

Perkins,  Amos,  Jr.  B >rn  in  Topsfield 
and  died  there  in  1894,  aged  84.  Shoe 
manufacturer. 

Perkins,  Nathaniel,  Jr.  Boro  in  Wen- 
ham  and  died  in  Topsfield  in  1846, 
aged  32.  Farmer. 

Perkins,  Nehemiah,  Jr.  Born  in  Tops- 
field, died  in  Auburn,  Me.,  in  1892, 
aged  71.  Farmer  and  shoemaker. 

Perkins,  Robert  Sumner.  Born  in 
Topsfield,  school  teacher,  »emoved  to 
Danvers  aud  engaged  in  the  soap 
business.  Is  still  living  in  Danvers. 
Was  sergeant  in  the  company. 

Perley,  Humphrey.  Born  in  Ipswich. 
Is  now  living  in  Boxford,  farmer. 

Perley,  John,  Jr.  Born  in  Ipswich  and 
was  found  dead  in  Topsfield  in  1880 
aged  76.  Farmer. 

Perley  John  Francis,  Jr.  Born  in  Box- 
ford and  died  iu  Topsfield  in  1893, 
aged  69.  Shoemaker  aud  carpenter. 

Perley,  Nathaniel.  Born  in  Boxford 
died  iu  fopstielcl  in  1864,  aged  37. 
Carpenter  a id  shoemaker. 

Perley,  Nathaniel  Born  in  Top-field 
aud  died  in  Boston  in  1842,  a^ed  43. 
Kept  general  and  E ist  India  goods 
store,  1st  lieutenant  of  the  compmy 
at  its  organization, promoted  through 
the  various  grades  until  Sept  4,1840, 
he  was  commissioned  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral of  the  4th  Brigade  Mass.  Light 
Infantry.  Represented  the  town  at  the 
General  Court  in  1838. 

Perley,  Osgood.  Born  iu  Boxford  and 
died  in  Topsfield  in  1886,  aged  71. 
Butcher. 

Phillips,  Andrew  Jackson.  Born  in 
Salem.  Shoemaker  and  farmer.  For 
a number  of  years  sailed  from  New 
Bedford  on  whaling  voyages,  enlist- 
ed in  3d  Mass.  Hy.  Arty.  Now  living 
in  Linebrook  Parish,  Ipswich. 

Phillips,  John.  Born  in  Topsfield. 
Farmer.  Killed  iu  1840  by  being 


thrown  from  a horse.  Was  buried 
from  the  house  of  Joel  Lake  with 
military  honors  from  the  “Warren 
Blues.1’ 

Potter,  John  H.  Born  inlpswich.  Car- 
penter and  house  builder.  Built  a 
number  of  houses  in  Topsfield  and  is 
still  living  there,  working  at  his 
trade.  Represented  the  town  at  the 
General  Court  in  1881;  selectman 
for  a number  of  years 

Small,  Isaiaii  M.  Came  from  Alton,  N. 
H.  Shoemaker  and  carpenter,  con- 
stable for  many  years.  Removed  to 
New  York  state. 

Stiles,  Frederick.  Born  in  Middleton. 
Shoe  manufacturer.  Still  living  in 
Topsfield. 

Taylor,  Trowbridge  Curtis.  Born  in 
Weymouth,  Mass.  Came  to  Tops- 
field from  Linebrook  Parish.  Shoe 
maker.  Enlisted  in  23d  Mass.  Vol.s., 
as  musician.  Removed  to  Ipswich 
and  died  there  in  1893. 


Todd,  John.  Born  inlpswich.  Shoe* 
maker  and  farmer.  Died  in  Topsfield 
in  1865,  aged  49. 

Towne,  Benjamin  B.  Born  in  Topsfield 
and  died  there  in  1888,  aged  75.  Farm- 
er and  shoemaker;  selectman  1854-6. 

Waitt,  William  Born  in  Topsfield  and 
died  there  in  1888  aged  77.  Shoe- 
maker and  expressman.  Was  blind 
the  last  years  of  his  life. 

Wellington,  Joseph  Lloyd.  Came 
from  Templeton,  Mass.  Was  a med- 
ical student, studying  with  Dr.  Batch- 
elder,  his  brother-in-law.  Surgeon’s 
Mate  of  the  company. 

Wildes,  Moses,  2d.  Born  in  Topsfield 
died  there  in  1895,  aged  84.  Shoe- 
maker. 

Whipple,  John  S.  Came  from  Hamil- 
ton. Butcher.  Died  in  So.  Tamworth, 
N.  H.,  in  1883  aged  59. 

Wright,  James.  Blacksmith.  Removed 
to  Lowell. 


The  Trial  of  Elizabeth  Porter  Bradstreet  for 
the  Grille  of  Arson. 

By  Mrs.  Theodore  VV.  Haven. 


“Stand  still,  my  steed, 

Let  me  review  the  scene 

And  summon  from  the  shadowy  Past 
The  forms  that  once  have  been.” 

Down  the  aisles  of  memory  come 
trooping  myriads  of  shadowy  figures  and 
fancies,  ghostly  remembrances  of  child- 
hood’s imagiuative,  dreamy  houis. 

Perhaps  the  first  distinctive  one  is  that 
of  attending  divine  service  in  the  meet- 
ing house,  as  it  was  generally  called  in 
those  days.  Now  its  more  familiar 
appellative  is  the  church.  Clearly  do  I 
recall  its  external  appearance  of  three 
decades  ago.  The  vast  area  of  its  bare, 
white -washed  walls,  the  hieroglyphic 
marks  across  their  surface  made  by 
cracks  in  the  plastering;  the  vivid  im- 
pression of  one  of  them  back  of  the  wing 
pews  on  the  west  side  of  the  nave  has 
never  been  effaced  from  memory’s  cam- 
era It  ascended  and  descended  in  regu- 
lar lines  like  steps  and  somehow  I asso- 
ciated it  with  the  ladder  ascending  into 
Heaven,  as  narrated  in  the  story  of 
“Jacob’s  dream.” 

Well  do  I remember  the  rising  of  a 
gray  haired  man  who  used  to  sit  in  one 
of  the  east  wing  pews,  during  prayer 
service.  I could  never  reconcile  his 
standing  up,  while  the  rest  of  the  men  in 
the  congregation  remained  seated.  Often 
I wondered  if  it  were  a penalty  for  some- 
thing he  had  done  amiss.  I have  since 
learned  it  was  a custom  handed  down 
from  our  “Puritan  ancestors,”  a visibie 
protest  against  the  kneeling  ceremony 
of  the  “Established  Church.”  Doubtless 
his  fathers  from  the  third  generation 
back  had  done  likewise;  his  grand-chil- 
dren follow  not  the  custom,  for  it  has 
become  obselete. 

Shall  I forego  mention  of  the  preacher 
who  occupied  the  pulpit  whose  words  of 
exhortation,  warning  and  prayer  were 
heard  from  it  for  so  many  years  and  per- 


chance find  a responsive  echo  in  the 
souls  of  some  of  my  hearers?  Indeed, 
no ! In  those  days  I had  only  a child’s 
acquaintance  with  him,  a feeling  of  awe 
and  respect  when  he  spoke  to  me,  a 
sense  of  having  been  greatly  honored  if 
perchance  he  grasped  my  hand.  In  after 
years  these  emotions  were  only  intensi- 
fied by  a more  intimate  acquaintance,  a 
fuller  appreciation  of  the  grand,  noble 
qualities  of  his  mind  and  soul.  Meas- 
ured by  the  agnostic  standards  of  today 
doubtless  he  would  be  reckoned  as  nar- 
row in  his  theology,  by  the  criticism  of 
the  “Andover  heresy”  as  bigoted  in  his 
views,  but  by  the  measure  “pure  in 
heart,”  majestically  he  towers  among 
his  contemporaries  and  successors  as 
well. 

Deep  set  iu  the  recesses  of  these  child- 
ish memories  is  the  picture  of  a woman’s 
face,  her  form  bowed  by  the  infirmities 
of  age;  plainly  I see  her  before  me,  “in 
my  mind’s  eye;”  even  to  the  details  of 
her  costume,  a “paisley”  shawl,  which 
she  invariably  wore,  a black,  embroi- 
dered, Spanish  lace  veil,  always  partial- 
ly drawn  over  her  face,  are  indelibly 
imprinted  on  its  retina.  There  was 
something  in  that  face  which  attracted 
my  fancy.  I know  I must  have  inquired 
as  regards  its  possessor,  in  my  early 
years,  for  the  outlines  of  her  story  seem 
almost  a personal  recollection.  May  it 
interest  you,  as  it  has  me. 

Backward  I fling  the  curtain  of  time, 
which  slowly,  solemnly,  unceasingly  has 
dropped  Its  folds  around  the  actors  of 
the  event  about  to  be  narrated,  shroud- 
ing within  its  unfolding  embrace  all  of 
them.  Fifty-eight  years  make  wide 
ravages  amongst  the  dwellers  of  earth. 
Death  with  a relentless  sickle  merciless- 
ly cuts  down  his  victims.  The  passing 
knell,  mahap  a shaft  of  marble,  are  the 
only  tangible  evidences  of  our  having 
existed.  He  who  serves  well  his  day 


31 


and  generation,  haply  has  attained  unto 
earth’s  highest  good;  to  have  served 
them  ill,  that  man  is  cursed.  The  story 
opens  with  the  account  of  a dire  calami- 
ty, one  of  destruction  engendered  by  that 
always  to  he  dreaded  foe,  tire. 

The  Salem  Gazette  dated  Oct.  17, 
1836,  contains  the  following  paragraph  : 
“On  Monday  morning  a fire  broke  out 
on  the  premises  of  Mr.  John  Rea,  Jr.,  in 
Topsfleld,  by  which  a tavern,  large  barn 
and  store  belonging  to  this  gentleman 
were  destroyed.  We  are  informed  by 
people  who  were  on  the  spot  that  the 
fire  originated  in  the  barn,  the  contents 
of  which,  a large  quantity  of  hay,  grain, 
etc.,  two  horses,  several  hogs,  two 
chaises  and  two  or  three  wagons,  were 
destroyed.  Considerable  of  the  house 
furniture  was  consumed,  also  many  other 
articles  in  the  house,  including  a gold 
watch.  Mr  Pei  ley’s  store  on  the  oppo- 
site  side  of  the  street  was  preserved 
with  great  difficulty.  It  is  supposed  that 
the  fire  was  the  work  of  an  incendiary, 
as  it  was  first  discovered  in  a part  of  the 
barn  not  used  as  a tavern  stable  and  into 
which  no  one  had  been  known  to  carry  a 
light.  Mr.  Rea  was  aroused  at  about 
one  o’clock.  The  alarm  reached  Salem 
a little  before  2.  Two  engines  from 
Danvers  and  one  from  New  Rowley 
(now  Georgetown)  were  present.  Loss 
$5,000.  Insured,  $2,000.” 

The  event  of  the  fire  was  an  exciting 
episode  in  ihe  history  of  the  village. 
Most  of  the  inhabitants  were  in  bed  and 
asleep  «t  ihe  time  it  commenced.  Mr. 
Chas.  Gould  had  just  retired  to  his  home. 
He  partially  dressed,  got  on  a horse  and 
rode  through  the  town  giving  the  alarm. 
The  tavern  stood  on  the  site  of  the  store 
uow  occupied  by  Mr.  C.  I.  Trowbridge, 
the  store  on  the  site  of  Mr.  John  Bailey’s 
residence.  There  were  no  build- 
ings on  ihe  same  side  of  the  street  on 
the  north  from  Wildes’  corner  but  a 
blacksmith  shop.  South  of  the  tavern 
was  the  new  Samuel  Gould  house.  Next 
to  it  stood  the  old  S.  Gould  house,  and 
from  there  none  till  the  house  of  John  G. 
Hood  on  the  present  corner  of  Main  and 
Prospect  streets.  What  to  me  seems 
remarkable  is  the  fact  that  it  i*  the  only 
fire  on  the  main  street  of  the  village 


since  it  was  first  settled.  May  it  be  the 
last. 

Of  course  the  ever  recurring  question 
as  regards  the  fire  was : How  was  it  set? 
Who  did  it?  The  property  was  insured 
for  a large  sum  for  those  days,  but  there 
was  a mortgage  upon  it,  held  by  Hon. 
Ashael  Huntington,  which  covered  the 
full  amount.  Capt.  Rea  had  recently 
failed  in  business,  and  the  loss  of  his 
property  bv  fire  beggared  him,  so  to 
speak.  The  topic  was  pretty  generally 
canvassed  by  the  townsfolk,  as  are  local 
happenings  at  the  present  time.  Many 
whispered  suspicions  which  they  dared 
not  utter  aloud.  Muttering*  of  distrust 
against  the  Reas  were  beard  on  the 
horizon  of  public  opinion,  but  none 
anticipated  the  terrific  bolt  nor  its 
cou-se  in  striking  an  unsuspecting,  un- 
prepared, unwarned  victim. 

A clipping  from  the  Salem  Gazette  of 
Dec.  13,  1836,  tells  the  story:  — 

Capital  Case. 

A magistrate’s  court  was  held  last 
week  at  Topsfleld  before  John  W.  Proc- 
tor, Esq.  for  the  examination  of  Miss 
Elizabeth  Porter  Bradstreet,  a maiden 
lady  of  a respectable  family,  on  com- 
plaint made  against  her,  charging  her 
with  the  crime  of  arson,  in  setting  fire 
to  the  dwelling-house  and  buildings  of 
Capt.  John  Rea  in  Topsfleld  a few  weeks 
since. 

The  Salem  Gazette,  dated  Dec.  16, 
1836,  contains  the  following  : — 

By  consent  of  the  parties,  and  for 
leasons  that  were  thought  satisfactory, 
the  time  for  the  hearing  in  relation  to 
the  charge  of  setting  fire  to  the  buildings 
of  Capt.  John  Rea  in  Topsfleld  on  the 
17th  of  the  October  last  is  postponed  to 
Monday,  Feb.  20,  1837. 

Elizabeth  Porter  Bradstreet  was 
house-keeper  at  the  Rea  tavern  when  it 
was  burned,  Capt.  Rea  its  proprietor, 
being  a widower.  Before  entering  into 
the  details  of  the  trial,  I wish  to  tell 
you  of  the  ancestry  and  early  life  of  the 
accused. 

Her  first  ancestors  in  this  country 
were  Gov.  Simon  Bradstreet  and  his 
wife,  Ann  Dudley.  John,  their  son, 
married  Sarah  Perkins.  They  had  a son 
named  Simon,  who  married  Elizabeth 


32 


Capen,  daughter  of  Parson  Capen  of  this 
town.  Their  son  John  married  Eliza- 
beth Fiske  aud  they  had  a son.  Col. 
Dudley,  who  married  Polly  Porter, 
sister  of  my  grand-mother  Gould,  daugh- 
ter of  Col.  Joseph  Porter  of  Danvers, 
a direct  descendant  of  the  John  Porter 
who  settled  at  Salem  village,  now  Dan- 
vers, in  1634.  To  them  was  born  on 
Jan  11,  1803,  a daughter,  Elizabeth  Por- 
ter, the  subiect  of  this  sketch.  Thus 
she  was  of  the  sixth  generation,  iu  direct 
line  of  descent,  from  Gov.  Simon  Brad- 
street  aud  his  wile,  the  “Lady  Anne,” 
the  first  poet  of  the  new  world.  Eliza- 
beth’s mother  died  while  she  was  very 
young,  and  being  the  eldest  daughter, 
upon  her  shoulders  devolved  the  task  of 
keeping  her  father’s  h >use,  looking  after 
and  supplying  the  wants  of  the  younger 
children;  because  oi  this  she  had  no 
chance  to  improve  even  the  scanty  school 
advantages  of  those  early  days.  I have 
been  told  by  one  who  heard  her  speak  of 
her  early  life  that  she  said  “her  lather 
kept  20  cows  which  she  helped  to  milk, 
took  care  of  milk  in  the  dairy,  making 
butter  and  cheese.”  Her  lather  kept 
large  flocks  of  sheep,  the  wool  ol  which 
she  spun  and  helped  weave  into  cloth  for 
the  clothing  of  the  family.  Flax  was 
also  raised  on  the  larm.  This  she  spun 
aud  wove  into  rifts  of  snowy  linen.  I 
recollect  having  heard ’an  auut  of  mine 
speak  of  the  quantity  of  linen  sheets 
which  Elizabeth  possessed,  the  work  of 
her  own  hands  iu  her  younger  years.  For 
all  these  services  rendered  as  her  fath- 
er’s house-keeper  she  received  the  muuifi- 
cent  sum  of  three  shillings  a week,  $26 
a year. 

Thus  she  grew  up  a steady,  industri- 
ous woman,  beloved  by  her  family  and 
respected  by  the  townspeople.  Her 
father  in  time  took  to  himself  a second 
wife,  so  that,  her  services  not  being 
required  at  home,  she  went  away  to 
work. 

She  was  a member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church.  At  the  time  of  her  arrest, 
Rev.  James  McEwen,  its  pastor,  rather 
than  have  her  committed  to  jail  during 
the  time  that  must  elapse  before  the 
hearing,  gave  his  pledged  word  to  the 
district  attorney  that  he  would  guarantee 


her  appearance  at  the  time  designated. 

The  trial  opened  at  the  old  hotel,  on 
the  turnpike,  Monday,  Feb.  20th,  1837, 
before  magistrates  Proctor  and  Mack. 
Hon.  Levereti  Salstonstall  was  counsel 
for  the  accused,  of  whom  it  was  said  : 
“there  is  one  honest  lawyer  in  Salem.” 
Hon.  Ishael  Huntington,  district  attor- 
ney, was  for  the  commonwealth,  himself 
a Topsfleld  boy.  lie  lived  a long  and 
honorable  life  aud  was  one  of  the  great 
lights  of  the  Essex  bar. 

The  Reas  were  the  accusers  of  Miss 
Bradstreet,  ba>ing  their  accusation  on  a 
letter,  purporting  to  have  been  written 
by  the  accused,  Oct.  10,  1836,  to  Capt. 
Rea  in  which  she  threatened  “to  burn 
his  property  unles>  he  discontinued  his 
attentions  to  Ann  Sawyer.”  This  Miss 
Sawyer,  whom  Capt.  Rea  afterward 
married,  lived  with  tier  brother, 
John,  who  was  a blacksmith,  living  in 
the  L of  the  Wilde’s  house,  carrying  on 
his  trade  in  the  shop  on  the  opposite 
corner. 

One  evening  while  Capt.  Rea  was 
calling  upon  Miss  Sawyer  a stone  was 
thrown  through  one  of  the  windows. 
They  charged  Miss  Bradstreet,  at  the 
trial,  with  the  perpetration  of  the  deed, 
but  it  was  not  proven.  One  item  of 
evidence  offered  to  support  the  contents 
of  the  letter  was  that  Miss  Bradstreet 
had  told  a womau  frieud  of  her  intention 
to  win  Capt.  Rea.  At  a house  where  she 
was  calling  one  day,  several  of  her 
acquaintances  were  congregated  and  in 
the  course  of  the  conversation  they 
chaffed  her  about  Rea  and  jokingly  she 
made  the  above  reply. 

At  the  time  of  the  tire,  of  course,  she 
wa»  aroused  with  the  rest  of  the  inmates. 
The  barn  burning  first,  there  was  time 
to  collect  most  of  her  belongings  aud 
she  hastily  placed  them  in  a trunk  which 
was  carried  out  ol  the  house  by  Euward 
Hood,  a resident  of  the  town.  At  this 
time  he  was  paying  particular  attention 
to  Miss  Bradstreet,  aud  he  testified  at 
the  trial  that  it  was  “impossible  for  her 
to  have  set  the  tire,  for  he  was  in  her 
company  from  8 o’clock  p.  m.  until  the 
hands  of  the  clock  were  perpendicular.” 

As  I before  stated,  the  trial  commenced 
at  the  hotel,  but  the  space  there  became 


too  limited  and  the  court  removed  to  the 
Academy  building.  Of  course  the  great 
piece  of  evideuce  against  her  was  the 
letter.  If  proved  to  have  been  written 
by  her,  the  conclusions  would  inevitably 
be  damaging  to  her  cause. 

During  the  examination  of  witnesses, 
one  of  her  brothers  was  asked  if  he  had 
in  his  possession  any  letter  written  by 
his  sister  Elizabeth.  He  replied,  “No! 
she  did  not  know  how  to  write  a letter, 
therefore  I have  never  received  any.  The 
only  specimen  of  her  handwriting  extant 
at  the  time  of  the  trial  was  a miss-spelled, 
badly  written  note  to  her  step-mother. 
Comparing  it  with  the  letter  received  bv 
Rea  it  was  obvious  that  the  handwriting 
was  totally  dissimilar.  So  that  the 
letter  charge  fell  through. 

The  time  of  the  trial  occupied  10  days ; 
really  over  11  days,  but  the  court  ad- 
journed over  one  sitting  to  attend  the 
funerai  services  of  Dr.  Nehemiah  Cleve- 
land. One  reason  for  its  great  length 
was  the  large  number  of  witnesses  put 
on  the  stand  to  testify  in  behalf  of  the 
accused  as  to  her  character,  standing, 
etc.  Two  persons  only  are  living,  now, 
of  that  number.  The  Reas  left  no  stone 
unturned  that  might  possibly  bear  on 
some  circumstance  that  would  teud  to 
criminate  her. 

At  length  came  the  final  day  of  the 
hearing,  which  it  was  decided  should  be 
held  iu  the  meeting  house,  March  3d. 
The  suu  rose  clear,  the  day  was  warm 
and  bright.  The  court  opened  piomptly 
at  9 o’clock  a.  m.  A few  minutes  before 
the  time  Mrs.  McEwen  came  down  the 
broad  aisle  of  the  meeting  house,  fol- 
lowed by  the  accused.  After  her  came 
the  high  sheriff.  The  party  seated  them 
selves  iu  the  mi  Ulster’s  pew,  which  was 
on  the  left  side  of  the  pulpit.  The  judg- 
es and  counsel  for  both  sides  occupied 
the  elder’s  seat,  which  was  the  height  of 
two  steps  above  the  rest  of  the  pews, 
and  directly  in  frout  of  the  pulpit,  ex- 
tending the  entire  length  of  the  pulpit’s 
platform.  After  prayer  by  Rev.  James 
McEwen  the  court  opened.  The  house 
filled  rapidly.  Every  inch  of  standing 
room  was  filled.  The  galleries  were 
packed  with  a sympathizing,  expectant 
throng.  Hon.  Leverett  Salstonstall 


opened  his  plea  for  the  prisoner.  He 
spoke  of  her  former  reputation,  her  in- 
tegrity of  character.  He  summed  up 
her  domestic  and  industrious  qualities, 
»couted  at  her  love  for  Rea  as  being  the 
incentive  of  the  crime,  aud  the  improba- 
bility of  such  a woman  concocting  so 
nefarious  a scheme.  He  pointed  out  the 
discrepancies  in  the  handwriting  of  the 
letter  and  of  the  note  I have  before 
spoken  of.  He  thought  it  hard  that 
Capt.  Rea  should  tell  the  story  of  Miss 
Bradstreet’s  infatuation  for  himself  and 
that  she  should  remain  silent.  The 
ignominy  of  so  doing  was  utterly  inde- 
scribable. The  argument  was  continued 
for  nearly  four  hours.  He  finally  com- 
mended her  to  the  “mercy  of  the  worldly 
judges,  and  that  of  Almighty  God,  who 
knoweth  the  innocence  of  the  crime 
whereof  she  is  accused.”  He  took  his 
seat  amidst  profound  silence.  After  a 
conference  among  the  judges,  the  court 
crier  announced  that  the  court  would 
adjourn  until  2 o’clock  p.  m.  Many  of 
the  audience  remained  in  the  meeting 
house  over  the  entire  intermission  in 
ordei  to  obtain  good  seats  for  the  after- 
noon session.  The  prisoner  repaired  to 
the  home  of  the  McEwens,  at  which 
place  she  had  been  staying  since  the 
time  of  her  arrest. 

The  court  came  in  at  precisely  2 p.  m. 
If  the  house  was  crowded  in  the  morn- 
ing, it  was  densely  packed  now,  the 
crowd  surging  back  on  to  its  entrance 
steps.  Hon.  Ashael  Huntington,  district 
attorney  for  the  commonwealth,  com- 
menced his  charge  to  the  judges,  as  fol- 
lows : “I  have  no  desire  other  than  to  do 
my  duty.  My  feelings  towards  the  com- 
munity are  friendly.  The  examination 
took  place  in  this  town  by  my  desire.  I 
consented  that  this  lady  might  remain 
with  her  friends.  I might  have  had  her 
placed  iu  jail,  as  always  is  done  in  cases 
of  this  kind.  I have  had  no  connection 
with  Rea  since  the  time  of  his  failure, 
till  1836.  Do  not  lose  a mill  in  conse- 
quence of  the  destruction  of  this  proper- 
ty. I respect  the  feelings  of  this  com- 
munity toward  the  accused.  It  may  all 
be  a delusion,  a mistake.  It  is  the  duty 
of  the  magistrates  to  carefully  weigh  all 
evidence  presented.  I don’t  believe  an 


34 


examination  of  this  kind  ever  consumed 
so  much  time  since  the  foundation  of  the 
government.  I have  only  done  my  duty 
if  I show  on  the  part  of  the  government, 
that  there  is  good  reason  to  suspect  the 
prisoner  of  being  guilty  of  the  crime 
imputed  to  her.  I believe  that  the 
community  admits  that  the  Are  com- 
menced by  design;  any  individual  in  the 
neighborhood  might  have  done  it  as  well 
as  the  prisoner  had  they  a motive.  I 
know  that  people  of  this  town  will 
weigh  the  truth  candidly.” 

So  he  goes  on.  Says  very  little  with 
regard  to  the  letter,  but  makes  a strong 
point  out  of  Miss  Bradstreet.’s  love  for 
Rea  and  her  avowed  intention  to  win 
him;  summing  up  the  points  of  evi- 
dence against  her  which  notoriously 
were  all  given  by  persons  of  the  name 
of  Rea,  or  their  family  connections, 
excepting  Ann  Sawyer.  His  speech 
occupied  over  two  hours’  time.  I have 
been  told  by  one  who  heard  it  that  “It 
was  considered  a masterly  affair,”  preju- 
dicing many  against  him,  they  thinking 
that  he  need  not  have  made  so  great  an 
effort  to  convict  one  of  his  own  towns- 
people. Doubtless  this  fact  made  him 
the  more  strenuous  in  the  performance 
of  his  legal  duty.  It  was  not  Ashael 
Huntington,  the  man  and  fellow  citizen 
who  spoke,  but  Ash  *el  Huntington,  the 
district  attorney.  The  case  was  given 
to  the  magistrates  at  5.40  o’clock.  They 
entered  into  a conference  as  to  its  merits 
and  demerits,  while  the  crowd  waited 
expectantly  for  their  verdict.  A large 
number  of  strangers,  young  men,  some 
25  in  number,  were  scattered  throughout 
the  audience.  People  wondered  who 
they  might  be.  It  grew  dark  and  the 
room  was  lighted,  but  no  one  stirred  to 
leave  the  house.  All  were  anxious  to 
hear  their  decision.  Finally  the  crier 
arose  and  stated  that  the  decision  would 
not  be  given  out  to  the  public  till  the 
next  morning  at  9 o’clock.  It  was  a 
great  disappointment  to  the  waiting 
crowd,  but  they  were  obliged  to  submit. 
An  arrangement  was  made  whereby  the 
result  of  the  trial  should  be  made  known 
to  the  people  at  large.  If  the  prisoner 
was  convicted  the  church  bell  should  be 
tolled,  if  acquitted  it  was  to  peal  the 


joyful  tidings  abroad.  It  was  whispered 
about  among  the  knowing  ones,  and  the 
rumor  had  reached  official  ears,  that 
those  young  strangers  present  were  the 
ringleaders  of  a band  which  intended  to 
make  a forcible  demonstration  inside 
the  meeting  house  after  the  delivery  of 
the  verdict.  If  favorable  to  Miss  Brad- 
street,  one  of  joy,  if  against  her,  one  o' 
indignation.  Some  who  knew  of  the 
weakness  of  the  structure,  asked  the 
judges  to  withhold  their  decision  on 
this  account,  fearing  that  some  of  its 
timbers  might  collapse  under  the  great 
weight  of  the  audience,  and  the  extra 
strain  of  stamping  and  rapid  moving 
about.  It  was  an  old  building.  Not 
long  after  it  was  removed,  the  pres- 
ent church  building  being  dedicated  in 
1842. 

The  fateful  morning  came.  One  aged 
woman  has  told  me  “that  in  her  home 
breakfast  was  ready  at  the  usual  hour, 
but  no  one  could  eat  it.  Her  father 
walked  the  floor,  while  none  of  the 
family  had  any  desire  to  engage  in  their 
usual  occupations.” 

Crowds  of  people  gathered  on  the 
common  as  the  fateful  hour  drew  Digb, 
waiting  for  the  peal  of  the  bell,  discuss- 
ing the  pros  and  cons  of  the  evidence  of 
the  trial  and  its  probable  outcome.  A 
perceptible  silence  fell  upon  them  as  the 
time  of  waiting  lessened  into  a minute’s 
duration;  when  it  lacked  only  a second, 
heart  throbs  were  almost  aud  ble.  “They 
rung  the  bell  till  they  rocked  the  steeple.” 
The  rejoicing  was  universal.  What 
must  not  its  glad  tidings  have  meant  to 
the  woman  whose  life  had  been  injeopar- 
dy  these  last  ten  day."?  We  can  imagine 
it  like  the  awakening  from  a most  horri- 
ble nightmare ; as  a delivery  from  an 
impending  weight  on  its  wav  to  crush 
the  very  life  from  her  soul  and  body. 

Who  set  the  Are  is  still  a mystery. 
Who  wrote  the  letter  is  another;  doubt- 
less they  will  always  remain  so. 

In  one  of  his  sketches  Hathorne  elab- 
orates the  idea  that  “ ’ris  not  the  deed 
alone  that  constitutes  sin,  but  the 
thought  as  well.”  Someone  in  their 

thought  deprived  Elizabeth  Porter 

Bradstreet  of  that  gift  bestowed  upon 
her  by  the  great  Creator,  life;  hanged 


with 


her  upon  the  gallows,  condemned  her  to 
the  most  ignomiuous  form  of  death  be- 
stowed upon  criminals  of  the  deenest 
dye.  In  God’s  sight  they  were  “guilty 


of  murder  in  the  first  degree,” 
malice  aforethought. 

May  He,  in  the  wideness  of  His  mercy, 
show  pardon  unto  that  guilty  one. 


A Sketch  ef  Dr.  Oeherruah  Gleaveland. 

By  Charles  J.  Peabody. 


In  trying  to  collect  material  for  this 
paper  I have  been  impressed  with  the 
fact  that,  however  deep  may  be  the  hold 
that  a man  gains  on  the  men  of  his  time, 
but  few  facts  or  traditions  linger  in  the 
minds  of  a later  generation.  Hence  much 
of  value  that  I present  may  doubtless  be 
well  knowu,  being  obtained  from  books 
with  which  you  are  more  familiar  than 
myself. 

The  recalling,  however,  of  the  (acts 
and  incidents  of  such  a life  as  that  of  Dr. 
Nehemiah  Cleavelaod  must  be  of  advan- 
tage, and  will  impress  on  us  the  great 
service  that  was  done  in  former  days  by 
a man  who  was  wise,  strong  and  true. 

Nehemiah  Cleavelaod  was  the  youngest 
son  of  Rev.  John  Cleaveland  of  Ipswich, 
of  whom  it  is  said  “he  preached  all  the 
men  of  his  Parish  into  the  army  of  the 
Revolution  and  then  went  himself;”  three 
of  his  sons  were  also  in  the  army.  Nehe- 
miah at  the  age  of  16  was  an  attendant  on 
his  father  during  the  siege  of  Boston  and 
afterward  enlisted.  He  saw  service  at 
West  Point  and  in  New  Jersey;  he  was 
also  at  Ticondoroga.  After  he  left  the 
army  he  worked  on  his  father’s  farm  and 
manifested  the  patience,  courage  and  en- 
durance that  afterward  distinguished  him 
in  increasing  its  productiveness  and  re- 
pairing the  neglect  caused  by  the  absence 
during  the  war  of  its  owner  aud  his  sons. 
At  the  age  of  21,  being  disappointed  in 
earlier  hopes  of  a cdllege  education,  he 
entered  on  the  study  of  medicine  with  his 
brother  at  Byfield  and  later  with  Dr. 
Manning  of  Ipswich. 

He  began  his  career  as  a physician  in 
Topsfield  in  1783,  taking  the  practice  of 
Dr.  Dexter,  who  owned  and  occupied  the 


farm  afterward  owned  by  Dr.  Treadwell 
and  now  held  by  the  Essex  Agricultural 
Society.  An  ancient  record  says  that  at 
the  auction  of  Dr.  Dexter’s  personal 
property  his  medical  library  was  pur- 
chased entire  by  D-.  Cleaveland;  said  li- 
brary consisting  of  two  books. 

Soon  after  settling  in  Topsfield  his 
practice  extended  to  the  surrounding 
towns,  and  his  reputation  as  a consulting 
physician  was  established  among  other 
doctors  as  well  as  the  people.  In  prac- 
tice he  is  described  as  cautious  and  care- 
ful. He  never  undertook  difficult  surgi- 
cal operations,  but  had  a keen  insight,  a 
good  memory,  with  the  kind  heart  that 
gained  the  respect  and  esteem  of  the 
families  among  whom  he  was  known  as 
an  adviser  and  guide  in  many  matters 
outside  medical  practice. 

He  was  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  iu 
that  capacity  exerted  a wide  influence  to 
promote  good  feeling  among  the  people. 
An  old  man  who  remembered  Dr.  Cleave- 
land, told  me  that  two  boys  detected  in 
petty  thieving  were  brought  before  him 
for  trial.  The  Dr.,  who  was  a man  of 
great  dignity  of  manner  and  never  famil- 
iar and  easy  even  with  friends,  talked  to 
the  boys  in  a solemn  way  of  the  wicked- 
ness of  their  conduct,  and  then  saying, 
“I  will  read  the  law  to  you,”  took  the  old 
family  Bible  and  read  in  an  impressive 
manner  the  commandments  and  part  of  a 
chapter  in  Leviticus  • then  turning  to  the 
trembling  boys  he  said,  “I  will  let  you  go 
this  time,  but  if  you  do  anything  wrong 
again,  beware—”  The  boys  thus  warned, 
reformed  and  justified  the  Doctor’s  faith 
in  the  old  law. 

In  1811  he  was  chosen  to  the  state 


senate,  and  though  defeated,  the  next 
year  he  was  re-elected  in  1815,  retaining 
the  position  till  1819,  when  he  refused  to 
be  longer  a candidate.  During  his  con- 
nection with  the  senate  the  historian  tells 
us  “His  good  judgment,  sound  sense  and 
solid  worth  were  neither  unappreciated 
nor  unacknowledged.” 

In  1814  he  was  made  a Session  Justice 
of  the  Circuit  Court  «>f  Common  Pleas. 
From  1820  to  1822  he  was  Associate  Jus- 
tice of  the  Court  of  Sessions  f<*r  Essex 
County.  In  1823  he  was  appointed  Chief 
Justice.  This  station,  the  duties  of 
which  he  discharged  with  ability  and 
firmness,  he  retained  till  1828,  when  he 
retired  from  all  public  business,  and  for 
9 years  lived  quietly  at  home,  dying  Feb. 
26,  1837.  In  1828  he  received  from  Har 
vard  University  the  honorary  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Medicine. 

Dr.  Cleaveland  was  nursed  in  the  Puri- 
tan strictness  of  earlier  times.  His  char- 
acter, early  formed  and  invigorated  under 
the  pressure  of  hardship  and  stern  neces 
sity  amid  the  thrilling  scenes  of  the  Rev- 
olution, exhibited  in  his  maturer  years 
the  strength  and  firmness  which  might 
be  expected  from  such  training.  There 
was  no  effeminacy  aoout  him.  He  regu- 
lated his  life  with  the  closest  regard  to 
principle.  If  his  strictness  sometimes 
bordered  on  severity,  bis  severity  was  of 
the  wholesome  kind  Witn  all  this  his 
natural  sensibilities  were  quick  and 
tender. 

In  public  affairs  and  political  questions 
he  took  from  his  first  entry  into  public 
life  a lively  interest.  Of  his  political 
opinions  his  futurity  will  never  (eel 
ashamed, for  they  can  say  they  were  those 
of  Hamilton,  Jay  and  Washington.  As  a 
physician  he  was  much  esteemed  by  per 
sons  who  had  opportunity  to  learn  his 
worth.  He  made,  indeed,  no  pretensions 
to  extensive  medical  lore — he  attempted 
no  difficult  surgical  operations.  But  he 
had  what  all  the  schools  of  medicine  of 
themselves  cannot  supply,  an  observing 
mind,  a retentive  memory,  a good  judg- 
ment and  a high  sense  of  responsibility. 
Nor  did  he,  like  too  many  country  physi- 
cians, neglect  the  reading  of  medical 
books  and  journals.  His  practice  was 
always  prudent  and  cautious,  qualities 


which  young  and  ardent  physicians  are 
not  apt  sufficiently  to  admire.  He  was 
punctual  in  attending  calls,  and  kind  and 
cheerful  in  the  sick  room.  He  pos>essed 
in  a high  degree  the  qualities  which  en- 
sure to  a physician  the  confidence  and  at- 
tachment of  his  patients.  But  the  country 
doctor  finds  many  opportunities  and  calls 
to  do  good,  for  which  the  faculty,  as 
such,  give  no  prescriptions.  Happy  he 
who  has  the  power  and  disposition  to 
meet  such  calls. 

He  was  twice  married,  first  to  Lucy 
Manning  of  Ipswich.  She  died  four  years 
afterward,  without  children.  His  second 
wife  was  the  daughter  of  Dr.  Elisha  Lord 
of  Connecticut.  A family  of  nine  chil- 
dren grew  up  around  them. 

After  his  retirement  from  public  life  he 
was  well  and  usefully  employed  for  the 
good  of  the  church  and  community.  The 
greatest  service  he  rendered  this  town 
was  the  founding  of  the  Academy.  He 
is  remembered  by  a few  of  the  older  peo- 
ple in  Topsrteld  as  one  of  the  only  three 
persons  in  town  who  took  a newspaper, 
which  in  the  Doctor’s  case  was  lent 
about  the  neighborhood  uutil  it  came  to 
pieces 

A vote  of  the  Topsfield  church  to  the 
effect  “that  the  pastor  shall  be  authorized 
to  associate  Dr.  Cleaveland  with  himself 
in  the  examination  of  persons  for  tne  ad- 
mission to  the  church  in  such  cases  as  he 
may  be  in  doubt  about  him>elf,”  well  ex- 
presses the  confidence  the  good  people  of 
that  day  felt  in  him.  There  is  a tradition 
that  one  Sunday  a stranger  occupied  the 
pulpit  by  exchange  with  the  pastor.  As 
the  congregation  were  coming  out  at  the 
close  of  the  service,  a good  woman  was 
asked  “How  did  you  like  the  minister?” 
“I  don’t  know  yet,”  she  said,  “I  must 
ask  Dr.  Cleaveland  and  then  I will  tell 
you  what  I think.” 

Another  story  going  to  showthat  when 
the  Doctor  had  made  up  his  mind  to  do  a 
thing  in  a certain  way,  he  was  not  easily 
turned  from  it,  as  follows:  A small 

school  was  kept  in  a room  of  his  house 
for  the  education  of  his  daughters  and  a 
few  other  girls  in  the  neighborhood.  It 
was  taught  by  a woman,  and  at  the  close 
of  the  term  an  examination  was  held, 
open  to  the  public.  The  Doctor  arranged 


37 


the  furniture  for  the  occasion  and  put  the 
seats  for  his  daughters  in  front  of  the 
rest,  much  to  their  annoyance.  *'0  fath- 
er,” thev  said,  “we  do  not  want  to  sit 
there  with  nothing  in  front  of  us.”  “Go 
put  your  aprons  on  and  have  something 
in  front  of  you,  if  you  wish,”  was  the 
reply. 

Dr.  Cleaveland  trained  his  children  to 
be  very  self  reliant.  An  illustration  of 
this  is  as  follows:  Late  one  evening  a 

stranger  came  to  his  hou*e  and 
asked  to  be  carried  to  Ipswich.  The 
Doctor  was  willing  to  do  so,  but  instead 
of  going  himself  he  called  his  eight  years 
old  son,  William,  who  had  gone  to  bed, 
to  get  up  and  take  the  stranger  to  Ips- 
wich. The  little  fellow  did  so,  and  ar- 
rived home  after  a loug,  lonely  ride  a 
little  after  midnight. 

The  Boston  Medical  and  Surgical  Jour- 
nal of  June  1839  says  of  Dr.  Cleaveland, 
“During  the  fifty  years  of  his  practice  in 
Topsfield,  few  days,  probably,  passed 
when  his  opinion  or  assistance  was  not 
sought  in  some  matter  aside  from  his 
profession.  There  are  few  occurrence-! 
or  questions  incident  to  common  life  in 
regard  to  which  he  had  not  formed  an 
opinion  or  could  not  give  judicious  ad- 
vice.” 

Indeed  the  mere  fact  that  through  so 
long  a series  of  years,  confidence  con- 
tinued uudimiuished,  the  oracle  being 
consulted  to  the  very  last,  proves  that 
the  responses  had  not  been  found  unsafe 
or  fallacious.  The  happy  influences  of  so 
long  a course  of  beneficent  action  are  not 
to  be  estimated.  How  many  quarrels 
have  been  arrested,  how  many  lawsuits 
prevented,  how  much  needless  expense 
and  tr  *ub  e saved,  in  a thousand  instanc- 
es by  the  timely  and  unfeed  advice  of  a 
judicious  and  p^ace  making  neighbor.” 

Dr.  Cleaveland  was  president  of  the 
Eastern  Stage  company  in  1796.  He  was 
chairman  of  the  first  meeting  of  the  com 
pany.  In  1806  he  bought  an  interest  in  it. 

The  study  of  a life  like  that  of  Dr. 
Cleaveland  brings  to  mind  the  question 
sometimes  raised,  “Were  the  prominent 
men  of  former  days  the  superiors  of  all 
men  today?”  There  is  much  to  be  said 
on  each  side  of  the  argument. 

It  is  at  once  evident  that  no  man  today 


holds  the  relative  position  in  Topsfield 
that  Dr.  Cleaveland  filled.  We  are  all 
aware  that  the  minister  in  auy  parish  is 
not  now  looked  up  to  as  was  the  case  a 
hundred  years  ago.  In  town  affairs  a 
greater  equality  of  influence  prevails  to- 
day than  a generation  since. 

What,  then,  do  these  things  prove? 
That  there  were  giants  in  the  earth  in 
those  days?  Yea,  verily.  But  has  not  the 
stature  of  the  average  man  considerably 
increased  mentally  in  two  generations? 
Is  there  no  significeDce  in  the  fact  that  in 
Dr.  Oleaveland’s  day  only  three  papers 
were  taken  in  Topsfield?  And  that  his  pre- 
decessor was  able  with  ouly  two  books 
to  solve  all  the  intricate  medical  prob- 
lems of  his  day?  While  with  us  every 
family  has  a treatise  on  medical  practice, 
besides  the  abundant  literature  sown 
broadcast  on  matters  of  health  and  sani- 
tary science  by  the  prominent  magazines 
and  papers.  Even  the  children  in  our 
common  schools  are  instructed  in  physi- 
ology, while  High  school  pupils  are 
taught  concerning  germs,  microbes  and 
bacteria,  to  say  nothing  of  the  thousands 
of  lives  annually  saved  by  Hood’s  Sarsa- 
parilla, Green’s  Nervura  and  all  the  rest 
who  uphold  the  health  of  the  people  at 
large.  Even  if  it  is  true  that  in  by  far 
the  larger  number  of  cases  they  save  life, 
as  the  small  boy  said  a pin  saved  the  life 
of  a man,  and  when  pressed  for  particu- 
lars, replied  by  his  not  swallowing  it, 
yet  as  every  one  reads  not  only  the  local 
paper,  but  much  on  every  subject  of 
common  interest,  the  effect  must  appear 
not  only  in  greater  general  intelligence, 
but  also  in  diminishing  the  distance  be- 
tween one  man  and  another. 

Many  of  us  have  noticed  a single  pine 
tree  standing  amid  a growth  of  oak  and 
maple.  How  it  lifts  itself  above  them! 
From  what  a distance  it  can  be  seen, 
sometimes  a landmark  for  miles  around. 
Yet,  the  height  of  the  tree  is  relative 
only.  Measure  it,  and  in  a forest  of 
pines  many  will  equal  it.  So  is  it  with 
men.  Were  the  great  men  of  the  past 
placed  among  us  today,  they  would  not 
be  so  prominent  as  in  their  own  day.  The 
average  is  rising  in  wisdom,  in  under- 
standing, and  let  us  hope  in  character 
also. 


38 

We  can  believe  that  the  present  time 
and  not  any  past  century  is  the  Golden 
age.  What,  then,  is  the  lesson  which  we 
shall  learn  from  the  life  of  him  of  whom  I 
have  spoken  to  you  tonight?  This:  he 
was  endeared  to  his  neighbors  by  Kindly 
service,  and  is  held  in  lasting  remem- 
brance for  his  good  deeds  and  peaceful 
influence. 

For  such  efforts  all  time  and  all  places 
afford  abundant  opportunity.  Let  us  re- 
member, when  medical  skill  is  forgotten 
and  recollection  of  legislative  service  has 
passed  away,  personal  character  and  pur- 


ity of  life  will  remain.  Hark!  then,  to 
this  parting  message — 

“Thou  must  be  true  thyself, 

If  thou  the  truth  would  teach  ; 

It  needs  the  influence  of  heart, 

To  give  the  lips  full  speech. 

Think  truly,  and  thv  thought 
Shall  the  world’s  famous  feed; 

Speak  truly,  and  each  word  of  them, 

Shall  be  a fruitful  seed  ; 

Live  truly,  and  thy  life  shall  be 
A great  and  noble  creed.” 


Bennie  B.  Tovvne  of  the  8th  generation  in  direct  descent  from  Francis  Peabody 
is  standing  in  the  foreground. 


39 


Francis  Peabody's  Grist  Mill. 

By  John  PI.  Towne. 


In  giving  a history  of  the  Peabody 
Mills  of  Topsfleld,  perhaps  it  would  not 
be  out  o'  place  at  this  time  to  give  a 
short  history  of  the  man  who  conceived 
the  idea  of  having  them  built. 

By  the  records,  Lieut.  Francis  Peabody 
was  born  in  a small  parish  called  St. 
Albans,  Hertford  County,  England,  in 
the  year  1614.  In  1635,  at  the  early  age 
of  twenty-one  years,  having  received  a 
certificate  of  good  character  from  the 
minister  of  his  parish  and  been 
exaraiued  for  emigration  on  April  6, 
1635,  he  left  his  Dative  country  in  the 
ship  Plauter,  for  the  shores  of  New 
England. 

After  his  arrival  in  this  country  it  is 
thought  by  some  that  he  lived  a short 
time  io  what  is  now  called  the  city  of 
Lynn.  In  the  following  year  1636, by  the 
records,  he  was  living  in  Ipswich,  in 
that  part  called  Candlewood,  where  he 
continued  to  live  until  1639.  He  then 
left  Ipswich  and  moved  to  what  is  now 
Hampton,  N.  PI.,  which  he  made  his 
place  of  residence  for  eighteen  years. 
During  his  stay  there  he  was  active  and 
useful,  serving  the  town  for  several 
years  as  one  of  its  “Selected  Men,”  so 
called. 

He  sold  his  house  and  land,  situated 
near  where  the  Baptist  church  now 
stands  in  Hampton,  to  Robert  Drake  of 
Exeter,  for  £76-13  S.  and  in  1657  he 
moved  to  Topsfleld,  Mass.,  where  he 
also  continued  to  make  himself  useful. 
Probably  at  that  time  he  was  the  best  ex- 
perienced man  in  town  affairs  there  was 
in  the  place,  and  the  Topsfleld  common- 
ers were  not  slow  in  finding  it  out.  A 
few  months  after  his  arrival  here  he 
was  chosen  to  serve  both  as  Selectman 
and  Town  Clerk,  which  offices  he  held 
for  a great  many  years,  as  our  records 
show. 

At  a lawful  town  meeting  of  the  town 
of  Topsfleld  on  the  4th  of  March,  1664, 
the  town,  by  vote,  gave  “liberty  to 
Lieut.  Francis  Peabody  to  set  up  a grist 


mill  and  to  flow  so  much  of  the  town's 
common  as  is  needful  foi  a mill  so  long 
as  the  mill  does  stand  and  grind  for  the 
town.” 

Therefore  having  liberty  from  the 
town  by  vote  of  its  inhabitants,  the 
grist-mill  was  built  by  Lieut.  Peabody 
the  following  year,  according  to  a paper 
in  my  possession  dated  1666,  which  says — 

“Peabody’s  mill  is  a mill  established 
by  grant  of  ye  Town  iD  1665,  on  a main 
from  Pye  Brook  and  Baker’s  Pond.”  In 
proof  whereof  we  have  from  the  town 
records — 

“At  a Lawfull  Towne  Meeting  the  19th 
of  March  1666 — 

Thomas  perkins,  ffrancis  peabody  and 
Johu  Gould  are  Chosen  to  Vew  aDd 
agree  with  Daniell  Borman  for  a hie  way 
between  William  Averiell  house  and  the 
mill  threw  his  ground  as  they  shall  see 
most  Conveuyaut.  - - - - Voted.” 

Thus  it  is  shown  conclusivelv  that  the 
mill  was  in  existence  in  March,  1666. 

Who  can  estimate  the  joy  of  the  in- 
habitants at  that  early  period  of  having 
a grist  mill  to  accommodate  them  in  the 
grinding  of  their  rye  and  corn!  It 
marked  a new  era  in  the  history  of  the 
Topsfleld  commoners. 

The  mill  was  buiit  on  what  was  then 
called  Pye  Brook,  running  from  what  is 
now  Lowe’s  Pond  in  Boxford  and  also 
from  Baker’s,  afterwards  Pritchard’s, 
but  what  is  now  called  Hood’s  Pond  in 
Topsfleld.  This  was  the  main  stream, 
there  being  a lateral  branch  about  a half 
mile  above  the  mill  running  to  Howlett’s 
brook  in  the  north  east  part  of  the  town 
and  concerning  which,  later  on,  there 
was  great  contention. 

At  a lawful  town  meeting  the  7th  of 
March,  1671,  it  was  voted — “That  the 
town  is  willing  that  Lieut.  Peabody 
shall  set  up  a saw  mill  provided  it  does 
not  do  damage  to  any  of  the  townsmen 
in  their  meadows.”  The  saw  mill  was 
built  in  1672. 

So  far  as  I am  able  to  learn,  every. 


40 


thing  pertaiuing  to  these  mills  went 
along  smoothly  until  the  year  1691.  At 
this  date,  the  businsss  increasing  on 
account  of  the  growth  of  the  surround- 
ing district,  there  was  not  sufficient  head 
of  water  during  a part  of  the  year  to  run 
the  mills,  the  fall  of  water  being  slight 
between  the  lateral  branch  and  the  mills. 

When  the  mill  pond  vVas  half  full,  the 
water  would  be  pressed  back  and  turned 
down  the  lateral  branch,  there  being 
quite  a fall  that  way.  As  there  was  no 
mill  at  this  time  on  Howlett’s  Brook, 
Mr.  Feabodv  was  granted  the  privilege 
of  building  a dam  across  this  branch  a 
few  rods  below  its  parting  from  the  main 
stream,  providing  he  pay  satisfactory 
damages  to  the  adjoining  owners  by  rea- 
son of  his  flowing  iheir  meadows. 

The  records  speak  of  damages  being 
received  the  following  year  by  Thomas 
Dorman  and  sons,  who  had  iu  1690 
erected  a house  within  a tew  rods  of  the 
parting  of  this  brook. 

By  the  wav,  this  house  was  occupied 
for  several  years  during  the  latter  part 
of  the  18th  century  by  Asahel  Smith, 
and  here  was  born  on  July  12,  17 T 1 his 
son  Joseph,  who  was  ihe  father  of  the 
celebrated  Joseph  Smith,  the  noted 
founder  of  Mormoaism  in  this  country 
The  house,  185  years  old,  was  torn  down 
by  Frank  C Frame  iu  1875  and  another 
built  on  the  same  spot. 

The  amount  said  Dorman  was  to 
receive  for  damages  on  account  of  the 
dam  being  built  was  left  by  agreement 
to  referees  to  decide,  as  follows — 

“We  whose  uames  are  underneath  on 
Being  chosen  By  rrr  Francis  Pabodv  and 
Thomas  Dorman  seur  and  his  sons 
Thomas  Dorman  juur  and  Jesse  Dorman 
to  value  what  Damage  the  said  Dormans 
shall  Receive  the  Present  years  Begining 
the  9th  day  of  February  1692:  and  End- 
ing the  9th  of  February  1700:  By  Reason 
of  the  said  mr  Pabodys  flowing  the 
Water  by  a dam  for  his  Corne  mill. 

We  say  that  according  to  the  Best  of 
our  judrnents  the  said  Dormans  are 
Damnified  twenty  shilins  in  their  Grass 
and  for  stoping  their  out  Lett  to  the 
Comon,  and  ten  shilins  for  want  of 
conveniant  watering  of  their  Cattle,  as 
Wittness  our  hands  at  Topisfleld  July 


the  5th  1692. 

Jonathan  Putnam 
Joseph  Bvxba” 

There  was  probably  water  power 
enough  at  the  mills  after  the  building  of 
the  dam  as  there  are  no  papers  showing 
the  want  of  it  for  more  than  fifty  years 
afterwards. 

During  the  year  1698,  after  faithfully 
serving  his  day  and  generation,  Lieut. 
Francis  Peabody,  the  ancestor,  passed 
away  full  of  years  and  honors.  By  his 
will,  dated  Jan.  20,  1695,  he  gives  his 
son,  Isaac  Peabody,  the  mills  and  mill- 
yard,  the  dwelling  house  by  the  mill  and 
other  property  besides. 

As  Isaac  Peabodv  owned  the  mills  in 
Feb.  1700,  when  the  old  agreement  made 
by  Lieut.  Peabody  with  Thomas  Dorman 
on  the  flowage  of  land  would  expire,  it 
became  necessary  for  him  to  make  fur- 
ther arrangements  concerning  it,  which 
read  as  follows — 

“This  agreement  made  this  6th  day  of 
February  1700  Between  Sargt  Thomas 
Dorman  on  the  one  Part  and  Isaac 
Peabody  on  the  other  part  witnesseth, 
that  for  future  Love  & Amity  between 
them,  the  said  Isaac  Peabody  shall  pay 
or  cause  to  be  paid  to  the  said  Dorman 
thirty  shillings  a year  in  money  ten 
years  from  the  date  hereof,  provided  he 
keeps  his  mill  Dam  up,  which  said  thirty 
shillings  is  in  full  for  all  Damages  said 
Dorman  sustains  by  said  Peabodys  mill 
Dam,  and  further  it  is  agreed  upon  that 
the  said  Peabody  shall  have  free  liberty 
to  raise  the  water  from  the  last  of  Sep- 
tember to  the  first  cf  April  yearly  as 
high  as  he  needs  for  the  use  of  the  mill, 
which  is  to  be  done  by  a Sluise  or  Dam 
that  now  stands  by  the  Bridge  by  said 
Dorman’s  New  House  which  is  on  the 
brook  that  runs  through  said  Dorman’s 
meadow.  And  further  it  is  agreed  on 
that  when  Mr.  Baker  and  said  Dorman 
do  send  word  to  said  Peabody  together 
to  lower  the  water  for  them  that  they 
may  mow  the  meadow  that  is  commonly 
flowed  by  the  mill  Dam  the  said  Peabody 
is  to  lower  the  water  such  time  as  they 
mav  conveniently  take  off  the  Hay  of 
said  meadow,  for  the  true  performance 
of  the  afrove  agreement  we  the  aforesaid 
Sargt  Dorman  & Isaac  Peabody  do  bind 


41 


ourselves  our  Heirs  Executors  Adm’s 
and  Assigns  each  to  other  fully  and  freely 
to  fulfill  the  same  as  witness  our  hands 
& seals  this  6th  day  of  February  1700. 

Thomas  Dorman. 

Isaac  Peabody.” 

In  1710,  arrangements  were  again 
made  between  Thomas  Dormau  and 
Isaac  Peabody  by  which  said  Peabody 
was  to  pay  said  Dorman  twenty  shillings 
a year  for  damages. 

On  the  27ih  of  December,  1715,  Capt. 
Thomas  Baker  applied  to  the  courts  at 
Salem  to  have  damages  allowed  him  by 
reason  of  having  his  meadows  flowed  on 
account  of  the  dam,  but  it  was  not  at 
that  time  allowed. 

The  mills  were  run  with  more  or  less 
success  until  1726,  when  Mr.  Isaac 
Peabody  died.  By  his  will,  dated  Oct.  1, 
1726,  he  gave  his  son,  Joseph  Peabody, 
as  follows — 

“I  give  unto  my  son,  Joseph  Peabodv, 
my  Grist  and  Saw  Mills  with  all  irons, 
wheels,  stones,  profits,  privileges  and 
appurtenances  to  said  mills  belonging, 
also  the  Dwelling  House  and  barn 
standing  near  the  Gristmill,  the  mill- 
yard,  &e,  &c.” 

The  next  year,  1727,  Mr.  Baker  still 
demanding  damages  for  injury  done  to 
his  meadows,  arrangements  were  made 
betweeo  him  and  Mr.  Joseph  Peabody 
by  which  he  was  to  receive  eighteen 
shillings  a year.  This  sum  was  paid 
yearly  to  the  Baker  family  for  more  than 
seventy  years. 

Up  to  1736  the  Peabodv  grist-mill  was 
the  only  one  in  town,  but  during  this 
year.  Thomas  Howlett  built  one  in  the 
north-eastern  part  of  the  town  on 
Howlett’s  Brook,  and  three  years  after, 
in  1739  he  also  built  a saw  mill. 

Mr  Peabody  continued  to  run  his  mill, 
paying  damages  to  Mr.  Dorman  and  his 
successors  iu  ownership,  also  to  the 
Baker  family  yearly  until  his  death, 
which  occured  June  7,  1755.  By  his 
will,  dated  Nov.  12,  1753,  he  gave  all 
his  real  estate  to  his  only  son,  Jacob 
Peabody,  with  some  conditions. 

Jacob  Peabody’s  ownership  of  the 
mills  extended  over  a period  of  fifty-one 
years  and  it  was  during  this  time  that 
there  was  so  much  litigation  and  trouble 


between  the  owneis  of  the  Peabody  and 
Howlett’s,  afterwards  Hood’s  and  then 
Hobb’s  mills. 

In  the  summer  of  1760,  the  old  original 
grist-mill  built  by  Lieut.  Peabody  was 
torn  down  and  a new  one  built  on  the 
same  spot,  David  Nelson  being  the 
builder.  The  millstones  and  some  other 
things  were  put  back  into  the  new  mill. 

Mr.  Nelson’s  bill  reads  as  follows — 

Topsfield,  Dec.  20,  1760. 

Received  of  Jacob  Peabody  ye  sum  of 
Fiftyfour  Pounds  Lawful  money  in  full 
satisfaction  for  pulling  down  an  old  and 
building  a new  Grist-mill  for  said  Pea- 
body. Received,  I say,  by  me,  David 
Nelson. 

In  1765  the  old  saw-mill  was  torn 
down  and  a new  one  built  to  take  its 
place. 

At  this  date,  1765,  both  of  the  mills 
being  new,  with  plenty  of  water  to  run 
them,  everything  seemed  in  a flourishing 
condition,  and  so  continued  for  several 
years.  Theu  there  began  to  be  a lack 
of  water  power  on  account  of  the  neglect 
to  keep  the  dam  across  the  lateral 
branch  in  good  condition.  In  1787, 
there  was  nothing  left  of  the  former 
dam  but  one  stick  oi  timber  lying  across 
the  bed  of  said  stream  called  a mud  sill. 

In  September  of  this  year,  supposing 
he  had  a right  “in  conformity  with  the 
grant  of  the  town  to  Lieut.  Peabody  to 
build  the  dam,’’ Jacob  Peaoody  to  some 
extent  restored  the  dam.  To  this,  Mr. 
Hobbs,  the  owner  of  the  Howlett  mill, 
made  objection  and  proceeded  to  tear  it 
down.  The  story  is  best  told  by  the 
memorandum  kept  by  Asahel  Smith,  who 
was  living  for  the  second  time  in  the  old 
Dorman  house,  and  which  reads  as 
follows — 

“September  the  24th  1787  mr  Jacob 
peabody  Stopt  the  water  at  the  mud  sill 
the  first  time — the  25th  mr  Beujn  Hobbs 
cleared  it  as  he  told  me — the  26th  mr 
peabody  Stopt  it  again  as  mv  two  sons 
Sami  & Asael  told  me — the  27th  of  said 
month  mr  hobbs  come  & took  the  stop- 
age  out  myself  & two  sons  Jesse  & 
Joseph  Being  present  and  he  told  us  he 
would  take  out  as  fast  as  peabody  put 
in — mr  peabody  jurn  Came  the  same  Day 
and  Began  to  Stop  it  again  and  I went 


42 


Dowu  and  forbid  him  useing  aoey  of  my 
property  to  Stop  said  Brook  or  coming 
anev  more  there  with  that  Design  — 
October  the  12th  mr  Jacob  peabody  junr 
stopt  the  Brook  again  the  same  Day  mr 
BeDj  hobbs  cleared  it — November  the  3d 
mr  peabody  & son  & mr  Sami  Brown 
come  & filled  up  the  mouth  of  Hobbses 
Stream  at  the  Crotch  of  said  Brook  with 
Large  Stones  on  Each  Side  to  the  Wedth 
of  2 feet  & 5 inches  and  Raised  the 
Bottom  of  said  Brook  about  5 inches 
from  its  usoual  Debih  with  flat  Stones — 
November  5th  me^srs  Abraham  Benjn  & 
David  hobbs  & mr  John  Perkins  junr 
came  with  5 yoke  of  oxen  and  a Dragg 
to  clear  out  the  Stones  again — I forbid 
them  coming  on  to  my  land  — Benjn 
hobbs  Come  to  my  hou»ie  and  Desired 
me  to  go  with  roy  two  oldest  sons  with 
him  and  measure  the  Debth  of  water 
that  Rah  over  the  mud  sill  and  Likewise 
the  Debth  of  the  Brook  at  the  Crotch 
which  I Did  and  we  found  the  water 
that  Ran  over  the  mud  sill  2|  Inches 
Deepe  and  at  the  Crotch  of  said  Brook  in 
hobbs  Stream  it  was  Eleven  Inches 
Deepe  and  further  saith  not. 

A Short  memorandum 

Asahel  Smith” 

Early  in  the  year  1788.  Jacob  Peabody 
commenced  an  action  of  trespass 
against  Abraham  Hobbs  for  his  digging 
out  the  brook  and  pulling  down  the 
dam,  which  was  first  erected  in  1692  and 
most  of  the  time  maintained.  “The 
suit  was  first  brought  before  what  was 
then  called  the  ‘Confession  Act.’  Mr. 
Hobbs  appeared  and  disputed  the 
demand.” 

Mr.  Peabody  had  his  case  entered  at 
the  next  court  of  Common  Pleas  for 
Essex  County. 

I have  the  depositions  of  ten  aged 
persons  who  testified  as  to  the  condition 
of  Pye  Brook  and  its  lateral  branch  at 
the  parting  thereof,  and  also  to  the  fact 
of  the  existence  of  a dam  across  said 
branch  as  they  remembered  it  fifty  years 
before,  or  between  the  years  1720  and 
1740.  These  depositions  were  signed 
and  sworn  to  before  Dr.  Nehemiah 
Cleaveland,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

The  names  of  these  persons  are  as 
follows:  Caleb  Foster  and  Mrs.  Mary 


Potter  of  Ipswich  ; John  Smith  of  Box- 
ford,  who  lived  with  Jesse  Dorman,  son 
of  Thomas,  in  1723,  when  16  years  of 
age;  Mrs.  Hannah  Chaplain  of  Rowley, 
who  lived  with  William  Rogers  in  1734 
in  said  Dorman  house;  John  Perkins  of 
| Topsfield,  who  lived  with  said  Rogers  in 
1736;  John  Averill  of  Westminster,  Vt., 
who  lived  with  Mr.  Rogers  io  1738; 
Nathaniel  Hood  of  Topsfield,  probable 
owner  of  the  Hewlett  Mills  from  1746  to 
1748;  also  John  Bradstreet,  Simon 
Gould  and  Thomas  Baker,  all  of 
Topsfield. 

I According  to  the  testimony  of  these 
witnesses,  the  dam  was  built  between 
two  small  hills  about  two  rods  above  a 
bridge  over  the  brook  in  the  following 
manner. 

“A  stick  of  timber  was  laid  across  the 
bottom  of  the  brook  and  two  studs  set 
up,  one  on  each  end,  and  tenanted  into 
this  stick  of  timber  or  mud-sill,  so 
aclled,  and  a cap-piece  mortised  on  the 
top  of  these  studs.” 

The  case  was  tried  in  two  courts  and 
exceptions  filed  thereon.  Mr.  Peabody 
then  decided  to  carry  it  to  the  Supreme 
court.  Before  the  sitting  of  this  court, 
however,  the  owners  of  these  two  mills, 
probably  finding  that  the  lawyers  were 
getting  more  out  of  it  than  they  were 
from  their  mills,  consulted  together  and 
decided  to  submit  the  case  to  the  deter- 
mination of  referees.  These  referees, 
Nathaniel  Lovejoy  Esq.,  Mr.  Moody 
Bridges  and  Captain  Peter  Osgood, 
viewed  the  premises  and  decided  as 
follows  : — 

“At  the  beginning  of  that  branch  of 
said  Pve  Brook  which  runs  to  said 
Peabody’s  mill,  at  the  parting  of  said 
brook,  suitable  stones  shall  be  laid  in 
lime  mortar  in  such  a manner  as  to 
confine  the  channel  of  said  branch  within 
the  compass  of  five  feet,  and  this  shall 
be  done  by  the  said  Peabody,  his  heirs 
and  assigns,  at  his  and  their  expense 
within  one  year  from  the  date  of  this 
report. 

And  at  the  beginning  of  the  other 
branch  of  said  brook  which  flows  from 
Pye  Brook  through  Howlett’s  Brook  so 
called,  being  a branch  of  said  Pye 
Brook  to  the  said  Hobb’s  grist-mill, 


43 


suitable  stones  shall  in  like  manner  be 
laid  in  lime  mortar  so  as  to  conflue  the 
channel  of  said  branch  within  the 
compass  of  three  feet,  and  this  shall  be 
done  by  the  said  Hobbs,  his  heirs  and 
assigns,  at  his  and  their  expense  within 
one  year  from  the  date  of  this  report. 

And  we  do  further  report  that  each 
and  both  of  the  said  parties,  their 
respective  heirs  and  assigns,  may  at 
any  time  hereafter  remove  any  obstruc- 
tions that  may  be  in  their  respective 
branches  of  said  brook  at  any  place 
therein,  saving,  that  the  said  Hobbs, 
his  heirs  and  assigns,  may  not  at  any 
time  remove  or  cause  to  be  removed  a 
certain  mud-sill,  lying  in  and  across  the 
branch  of  said  brook  running  to  the 
said  Hobb’s  grist-mill,  about  two  rods 
above  a bridge  over  the  brook  on  the 
road  facing  by  Asahel  Smith’s  dwelling 
house  and  where  a dam  was  formerly 
made,  and  that  he,  his  heirs  and  assigns, 
shall  forever  keep  and  maintain  a sill  or 
bar  in  that  place  in  the  same  situation 
it  now  is,  never  to  be  sunk  lower,  nor 
shall  he  or  they  make  any  alteration  in 
the  bed  or  bottom  of  said  brook  by 
digging  or  lowering  it  from  its  present 
state  from  the  parting  of  said  brook  to 
the  aforesaid  mud-sill. 

Neither  shall  the  said  Peabody,  nor 
his  heirs  and  assigns,  make  any  altera- 
tion in  the  bed  or  bottom  of  that  branch 
of  said  brook,  running  to  his  said  mill, 
within  five  rods  of  the  said  parting  of 
said  brook.  Given  under  our  hands  this 
thirtieth  day  of  December  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred 
eighty  eight. 

Nathaniel  Lovejoy  ^ 

Moody  Bridges  > Referees. 

Peter  Osgood  ) 

Accepted  by  the  Court  Apr.  1789. 

Although  more  than  a century  has 
passed  since  this  occured  yet  it  remains 
the  same  today. 

It  is  a somewhat  singular  fact  that 
after  all  the  contention  and  strife 
between  the  owners  of  these  mills,  the 
proprietor  of  the  Hobb’s  mill  today, 
Mr.  Wellington  Donaldson,  is  a lineal 
descendant  of  Francis  Peabody,  the 
ancestor. 

In  1801,  Joseph  and  John  Batchelder, 


owners  of  the  Captain  Thomas  Baker 
farm  at  this  date,  brought  suit  agaiust 
Jacob  Peabody  for  the  flowing  of  their 
meadows.  The  case  was  tried  on  the 
second  Tuesday  of  November,  1801,  at 
the  Supreme  judicial  court  holden  at 
Salem  and  they  were  awarded  $10.00  by 
the  court  for  past  damages,  also  said 
Peabody  and  his  successors  in  owner- 
ship of  the  mills  were  to  pay  three  dollars 
per  year  for  damages  in  the  future. 
This  amount  was  paid  every  year  until 
1870,  when  it  was  stopped. 

Jacob  Peabody  died  Nov.  25,  1806  and 
by  his  will  dated  Feb.  16,  1804,  he  gave 
the  mills  with  other  property  to  his  two 
sons,  Jacob  and  John  P.  Peabody,  in 
equal  shares.  These  two  brothers 
continued  to  run  the  mills  up  to  the 
summer  of  1824. 

The  grist  mill  at  this  time  being  very 
much  out  of  repair,  needing  a new  water- 
wheel, a set  of  mi’l  stones,  a new  flume 
and  several  other  thiDgs,  it  was  thought 
best  to  tear  it  down  and  build  anew. 
This  was  done  in  August  and  the  new 
one,  built  on  the  same  spot,  was  raised 
on  Sept.  25,  1824.  The  work  was  done 
by  Ezra  Dodge  and  others  from  Beverly. 

John  P.  Peabody  took  one  half  of  the 
old  original  mill-stone  for  a door  step, 
in  which  capacity  it  has  served  to  the 
present  day.  The  new  mill-stones, 
weighing  over  three  tons,  were  brought 
from  Lynn,  as  the  following  bill  will 
testify  : — 

Topsfield,  Oct.  9,  1824. 
John  P. Peabody  to  Nehemiah  Perkins  Dr. 

To  myself  and  two  yoke  of  oxen  to 
Lynn  to  draw  the  millstones  for  the  new 
mill.  $1.17 

Rec’d  Payment, 
Nehemiah  Perkins. 

The  cost  of  the  new  mill  was  $452.06. 
The  mills  were  run  by  the  said  brothers 
until  Feb.  14,  1829,  up  to  which  date 
they  had  been  in  the  Peabody  name  for 
164  years. 

Now  there  happened  an  unusual 
occurrence,  as  the  first  change  was 
made  in  the  name  of  the  owners.  Jacob 
Peabody  sold  his  farm  and  undivided 
half  of  the  mills  to  Hon.  Nathan  Dane  of 
Beverly,  the  deed  being  dated  Feb.  14, 
1829.  Mr.  Dane  transferred  the  same  to 


44 


Samuel  Bradstreet  aud  Samuel  Gould 
iu  common,  June  16,  1831. 

April  12,  1838,  Samuel  Bradstreet 

sold  out  his  one  fourth  interest  to 
Samuel  Gould,  who  in  turn  sold  out  his 
oue  half  interest  of  the  mills  to  Jacob 
Towne,  Sept.  14,  1841. 

Widow  Sophia  Towne,  as  administra- 
trix of  tht  estate  of  Jacob  Towne, 
conveyed  to  their  son,  J.  Waldo  Towne, 
this  one  half  interest  of  the  mills,  April 
2,  1845. 

During  all  these  years  since  Jacob 
Peabody  io  Feb.  14,  1829  had  sold  out 
half  of  the  mills,  John  P.  Peabody  had 
continued  running  them,  paying  rent  to 
the  different  owners  of  the  undivided 
half  sold  by  his  brother  Jacob. 

In  1842,  the  old  saw  mill  was  taken 
down  by  Alfred  P.  Towne  and  used  for 
firewood. 

Considerable  business  must  have  been 
done  at  this  mill  as  shown  by  the  “Book 
of  Accounts”  which,  over  a ceutury  old, 
I still  have  in  my  possession.  I also 
have  an  old  saw  taken  from  the  mill  in 
1792. 

On  Nov.  1,  1843  John  P.  Peabody  sold 
his  farm  ana  his  one  half  of  the  mill  to 
his  son-in-law,  Benjamin  B.  Towne.  At 
this  date,  one  half  of  the  mill  had  been 
in  the  Peabody  name  178  years. 

In  1846,  the  old  Peabody  House  by  the 
mill  was  torn  down  by  A.  Porter  Knee- 
land  and  others.  I was  present  on  that 
occasion  with  many  of  the  neighbors. 

Some  of  the  boards  and  timbers  taken 
from  this  old  house  were  used  in  the 
construction  of  the  house  erected  near 
this  spot  by  J.  Waldo  Towne  In  1847. 
The  house  is  now  owned  by  George  F. 
Pevear. 

The  mill  was  run  by  Benjamin  B.  and 
J.  Waldo  Towne  until  April  10,  1848, 
when  they  sold  out  to  John  McKenzie. 

During  his  ownership,  being  a wheel- 
wright, he  made  extensive  repairs.  The 
old  reversible  water-wheel,  16  feet  in 
diameter,  was  taken  out  iu  1850  and  a 
new  circular  tub-wheel  put  in. 

When  putting  in  a foundation  for 
this  new  wheel,  Mr.  McKenzie  found  an 
old  Pine-tree  shilling.  This  ancient  coin 
was  afterwards  purchased  by  Dea.  Joel 
R.  Peabody  and  with  some  appropriate 


verses  on  the  same  written  by  Mrs. 
Peabody,  his  wife,  was  sent  as  a present 
to  George  Peabody,  the  eminent  banker 
of  London,  England.  Mrs.  Peabody 
received  in  return  a present  of  a silver 
pitcher  lined  with  gold. 

In  1851,  after  making  many  repairs, 
j Mr.  McKenzie  put  in  a corn  cracker,  for 
up  to  this  time  only  clear  grain  had  been 
ground.  The  putting  in  of  this  cracker 
marked  a new  epoch  io  the  history  of 
the  mill.  Not  much  corn  was  shelled 
after  this  as  the  great  cull  seemed  to  be 
for  corn-aod  cob  meal. 

Mr.  McKenzie’s  health  beginning  to 
fail,  he  was  assisted  io  his  work  by  his 
son-in-law,  John  Boardman,  Junior. 
The  mill  was  run  with  good  success 
until  Aug.  1,  1854,  when  being  still  in 
poor  health,  Mr.  McKenzie  sold  out  to 
his  son,  Alfred  McKenzie.  As  he  was 
living  in  Danvers  at  the  time  he  let  out 
the  mill  on  shares  to  Benjamin  B. 
Towne,  who  ran  it  continuously  with 
the  assistance  of  George  W.  Brown, 
until  April  1,  1870 

During  this  time  the  principal  repairs 
were  made  in  1857,  when  a new  flume 
and  bridge  were  put  in  at  the  cost  of 
$117.00. 

The  passing  of  the  mill  property  from 
the  McKenzies  into  other  hands  was 
i probably  hastened  by  the  following 
| incideut. 

Mr.  William  Locke  owned  the  proper- 
ty adjoining  the  mill  lot  and  desiring  to 
make  some  improvements  in  front  of 
his  house  and  near  the  brook,  he  com- 
menced to  build  a wall  around  a spring 
which  was  by  the  side  of  the  brook. 

While  working  on  the  same  one 
| pleasaut  afternoon  in  October,  1869,  oue 
j of  the  McKenzie  heirs  happened  to  come 
I along  and  asked  the  question,  “On 
whose  laud  are  you  building  your  wall, 
Mr.  Locke?”  He  replied  in  an  indif- 
ferent manner  as  if  he  did  not  care,  but 
it  seems  he  afterwards  looked  at  the 
deed  of  his  place  aud  found  he  was 
j trespassing  upon  mill  property. 

Desiring  to  go  on  with  his  improve- 
ments, he  began  at  once  to  negotiate 
for  the  purchase  of  the  mill  property, 
which  was  finally  consummated  March 
19,  1870.  Mr.  Locke  made  some  repairs 


45 


to  the  mill,  putting  ou  a new  Tim  to  the 
water  wheel  and  also  substituting  iron 
floats  to  the  wheel  In  place  of  wooden 
ones. 

During  the  first  part  of  Mr.  Locke’s 
ownership,  it  was  run  by  David  Smith 
and  B.  Austin  Perkins,  and  then  by  Mr. 
Locke  himself  until  July  17,  1873,  when 
he  sold  his  place  with  mill  property  to 
John  B.  Perry  of  Somerville. 

Mr.  Perry  ran  the  mill  with  some 
success  until  he  sold  it  to  Mrs.  Licenetta 
Ham  of  Wakefield,  Aug.  19,  1875.  Dur- 
ing her  ownership  it  was  run  by  John 
B.  Perry,  Jr. 

Mrs.  Ham  sold  out  to  Mrs.  Catharine 
Hanford  of  Lexington,  Jan.  4,  1876.  It 
was  run  during  her  ownership  by  her 
son,  Clarence  C.  Hanford,  who  made 
some  repairs  on  the  same. 

On  the  27th  of  June,  1883,  Mrs.  Han- 
ford’s interest  in  the  mill  property  was 
sold  to  Leon  F.  Chameciu  of  Boston, 
and  on  the  second  day  of  October,  the 
same  year,  1883,  he  sold  out  to  Mrs. 
Teresa  C.  Carr,  the  present  owner. 
The  mill  has  not  been  run  since  1892. 

The  most  saccessful  period  of  the 
mill’s  history  was  probably  from  1851, 
the  time  of  putting  in  the  corn-cracker, 
to  1875,  for  during  the  civil  war  and  for 
some  years  afterwards,  grain  was  very 
high,  often  bringing  two  dollars  per 
bushel. 

Many  amusing  incidents  could  be 
related  in  connection  witfh  this  mill. 
Some  people  would  come  to  the  house 
and  say  In  rather  pleading  tones,  “I 
want  to  go  to  mill.”  Others  would  say, 
“I  have  come  to  get  some  meal  ground.” 
My  parents  have  often  spoken  of  a 
gentleman  who  occasionally  came  to 
mill  from  the  Linebrook  Parish.  He 
generally  drove  in  a two-wheel  shay  and 
when  coming  down  the  turnpike  hill  by 
our  grove  he  would  begin  to  cry  out  in 
stentorian  tones,  “Where  is  the  miller?” 
“Where  is  the  miller?”  and  he  would 
keep  it  up  more  or  less  until  he  had 


arrived  opposite  the  miller’s  house.  If 
the  miller  was  within  an  eighth  of  a 
mile  of  the  scene  of  action  he  would  be 
almost  sure  to  hear  the  cry.  Evidently 
the  gentleman  disliked  to  get  out  of  his 
shay  to  call  at  the  house  for  the  miller. 

The  old  mill  stands  today  in  quiet 
repose.  No  busy  sound  is  heard  save 
that  of  the  ceaseless  flow  of  the  running 
brook,  bringing  to  mind  the  truthful 
words  of  Tennyson  : — 

“For  men  may  come  and  men  may  go, 
But  I go  on  forever.” 

Let  us  contemplate  the  scene  and  ask 
the  question,  “Where  in  this  town  is 
there  another  landmark  around  which 
cluster  so  many  memories  of  the  past, 
and  where  another  spot  on  which  a 
building  has  stood  every  year  since  1665, 
or  within  forty  five  years  of  the  landing 
of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers?”  And  a few 
rods  from  this  mill  is  the  old  historic 
spot  where,  in  1660,  dwelt  the  only 
family  in  America  by  the  name  of 
Peabody,  whose  descendants  today  are 
numbered  by  the  thousands. 

Now,  in  conclusion,  I will  say  that 
notwithstanding  I have  over  seventy 
papers  referring  to  these  mills,  some  of 
which  are  more  than  two  centuries  old, 
handed  down  to  me  through  six  genera- 
tions, or  from  Lieut.  Francis  Peabody, 
the  ancestor,  I have  been  very  careful 
to  give  the  subject  due  consideration  in 
regard  to  facts  and  dates,  thinking  that 
this  will  probably  be  the  only  history 
that  will  ever  be  written  of  the  old 
Peaoodv  mills.  One  of  them  has  been 
gone  for  more  than  half  a century,  and 
the  other,  unless  repaired,  will  soon  be  a 
thing  of  the  oast,  and  these  ancient 
landmarks  will  be  obliterated  forever, 
for  it  is  not  probable  that  the  grist-mill 
will  ever  be  rebuilt  again,  although  the 
water  power  may  be  utilized  for  some 
other  purposes  in  the  long  distant 
future. 

i 


BAPTISMAL  RECORDS 


OF  THE 


CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD 


COMMUNICATED  BY 

GEO.  FRS.  DOW. 


Salem,  Mass. 

aylward  & Huntress,  Printers. 
Ube  Salem  ipress. 

1895. 


BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN 
TOPSFIELD,  1727-1779. 


COMMUNICATED  BY  GEO.  FRS.  DOW. 


A List  of  most  of  ye  children  y4  were  baptized  by  sev- 
erall  ministers  of  yeGospell  during  ye  vacancy  in  ye  church 
of  Topsfield,  yt  is  after  the  Death  of  ye  Rev.  Mr  Joseph 
Capen,  untill  ye  ordination  of  Mr  John  Emerson  his 
successor. 

The  Rev.  Mr  Putnam,  Pastor  of  a church  in  Reading, 


baptized 
Joseph  Towne 

his  Sarah 

Feb’y  26,  1726-7. 

Samuell  Smith 

“ Susanna 

“ 

Samuell  Howlet 

“ William 

4 c 4 4 

David  Redington 

“ Sarah 

“ 

Robert  Perkins 

“ Rebeckah 

4 4 4 4 

Samuell  Bradstreet 

“ Sarah 

4 4 4 4 

Samuell  Curtice 

“ Mary 

44 

Jacob  Reddington 

“ Daniel 

“ 

Gideon  Towne 

“ Hannah 

4 4 4 4 

(i) 


2 BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD. 


The  Rev.  Mr  Prescot,  of  Salem,  baptized 


Samuell  Towne 
Francis  Peabody 
Joseph  Commins 
Nathan  Towne 


his  Samuell 
“ Isaac 
“ Moses 
* ‘ Amee 


Aug.  27, 


1727. 


ye  Rev.  Mr.  Wigglesworth,  of  Ipswich  Hamlet,  baptized 

Mark  How  his  Luce  Feb’y25,  1727-8. 


ye  Rev.  Mr.  Clark,  of  Salem  village 

Timothy  Perkins  his  Rebeckah  March  10,  1727-8. 


John  Wilds 
Jonathan  Perkins 
Richard  Towne 


Amos 

Hannah 

Thomas 


The  Rev.  Mr.  Rogers,  of  Boxford 

Jacob  Perkins  his  Abigail  March  31,  1728. 

Aaron  Estey  “ Hannah  “ “ 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Prescot,  of  Salem 

Daniel  Towne  his  Dorothy  Aprill  14,  1728. 


The  Rev.  Mr.  Emerson,  of  Malden  baptized 


Benjamin  Towne 

i i t c 

Samuell  Curtice 
Samuell  Perkins 


“S  Joseph}*--  June  9,  1728. 

“ Samuell  “ “ 

“ Margaret  “ “ 


The  Rev.  Mr.  Rogers,  of  Boxford,  baptized 

Daniel  Redington  his  Sarah  June  23,  1728. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Wigglesworth,  of  Ipswich  Hamlett 

Samuell  Robinson  his  Hannah  August  18,  1728. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Rogers,  of  Boxford,  baptized 

Tobijah  Perkins  his  Annah  November  10,  1728. 

John  Abbot  “ Elizabeth  “ “ 


The  Rev.  Mr.  Robert  Ward,  of  Wenham,  baptized 

Matthew  Peabody  his  Ebenezer  October  1,  1727. 


BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  TIIE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD.  3 


Joseph  ye  son  of  Simon  and  Elizabeth  Bradstreet  was 
baptized  June  25,  172 [7]  by  ye  Rev.  M1'.  Robert  Ward 
of  Wenham. 


The  Church  of  Christ  in  Topsfield  having  made  choice 
of  Mr.  John  Emerson  to  be  their  Pastor  sent  Letters  to 
Eight  Churches  to  come  and  afford  their  assistance  by  yv 
Elders  & messengers  in  ordaining  of  him  to  ye  office  of  a 
Pastor  over  ym  in  ye  Lord,  accordingly  on  ye  27th  Day 
of  Novbr  1728  came  ye  Rev : Mr.  John  & Nathan11  Rogers 
Pastors  of  ye  first  church  of  Christ  in  Ipswich  with  their 
Delegates.  The  Revd  Mr.  John  Rogers  of  Boxford.  The 
Revd  Mr.  Joseph  Emerson  of  Malden.  The  Revd  Mr. 
Sam11  Wigglesworth  of  Ipswich  Hamlett.  The  Revd  Mr. 
Peter  Clark  of  Salem  village  and  The  Revd  Mr.  Robert 
Ward  of  Wenham  wth  their  Delegates. 

The  solemnity  began  wth  Prayer,  Mr.  Wigglesworth 
was  ye  mouth  of  ye  Congregation. 

Mr.  Emerson  of  Malden  preached  from  Mat.  4:  21-22. 
And  going  on  from  thence  He  saw  other  two  Brethren , 
James  ye  son  of  Zebedee  & John  his  Brother , and  He 
called  ym,  and  they  immediately  left  ye  ship  yr  Father 
and  followed  Him. 

Mr.  John  Rogers  Sen1’.  Pastor  of  ye  first  chh  : of  Ips- 
wich gave  ye  Charge. 

Mr.  John  Rogers  of  Boxford  gave  ye  right  Hand  of 
Fellowship. 

Mr.  Ward  of  Wenham  prayed  afterwards,  a suitable 
psalm  was  yn  sung,  ye  Blessing  given  and  ye  solemnity 
Concluded. 


Simon  Bradstreet 
William  Kittery 
Abraham  Foster 
Luke  Avery 


his  Mercy 
“ William 
“ Amos 
“ Ruth 


Decembr  8,  1728. 

“ 22, 


4 BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD. 


Jacob  Pea-oody 

his  Elizabeth 

Decembr  29, 

Abraham  How 

“ Elizabeth 

44  44 

Matthew  Peabody 

“ Mehetabell 

44  a 

Joseph  Perkins 

“ Dorkas 

January  5, 

Simon  Brad  street 
Zacheus  Perkins  and 

William  Perkins,  these  upon  their  own  account 
being  of  adult  Age, 
also  ye  children  of 
Thomas  & Mary  Demcy  their  Mary 

February  23, 
«<  << 

“ “ “ 

“ Thomas 

“ “ 

«<  <<  <( 

“ Miriam 

“ 

a u k 

‘ ‘ Charles 

“ 

Richard  Town 

his  Mary 

March  2, 

Timothy  Perkins 

“ Timothy 

“ 16, 

Joseph  Robinson 

“ Joseph 

“ “ 

Robert  Perkins 

“ Robert 

“ “ 

Samuell  H owlet 

“ Dan 

“ “ 

Joseph  Gould 

“ Daniel 

“ 30, 

Sam11  Bradstreet 

“ Sam11 

“ “ 

Jacob  Aver  ell 

“ Jacob 

“ 

Joseph  Towne 

“ Jonathan 

April  20, 

Joseph  Towne  Junr 

“ Jemima 

44  4 4 

David  Cummins 

“ David 

“ 

Mark  Howe 

“ Mary 

May  4, 

John  Gould 

“ Jacob 

“ 11, 

Jacob  Reddington 

“ Jacob 

“ 25, 

John  Prichard 

“ Paul 

June  8, 

Francis  Peabody 

“ Daniel 

“ 

Ephraim  Smith 

“ Mary 

“ 

John  Cummings 

“ Sarah 

a 44 

Eliezer  Lake 

“ Daniel 

July  6, 

John  Wilds 

“ Mary 

“ 27, 

Jonathan  Wilds 

“ Nathanael 

4 4 *4 

John  Perkins  Juur 

“ Stephen 

“ 

Daniel  Towne 

“ Thomas 

August  24, 

Micall  Dwinell 

‘ ‘ Thomas 

September  7, 

Nathan  Towne 

•“  Esau 

“ 28, 

Michall  Coffeen 

“ John 

November  23, 

“ 

“ Michall 

4 4 4 4 

Philip  Towne 

“ Enos 

December  7, 

Josiah  Kenney 

“ Mary 

February  1, 

John  Towne  Junr 

“ Icabod 

“ 15, 

Miall  Coffee 

“ Robert 

44  4 4 

BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD.  5 


Daniel  Reddington 

his 

Dorcas 

March 

15, 

1730 

Jonathan  Perkins 

4 4 

Jonathan 

“ 

“ 

The  widow  Ann  Averell 

“ 

22, 

Jacob  Perkins 

“ 

Prudence 

April 

19, 

John  Bradstreet 

“ 

Sarah 

May 

17, 

Timothy  Perkins 

“ 

Nathan 

June 

7, 

Joseph  Towne  Junr 

“ 

Archelaus 

“ 

“ 

Joseph  Dwinell 

4 4 44 

4 4 
4 4 

George 

Joseph 

Martha 

Mary 

Zechariali 

“ 

28, 
4 4 

4 4 4 4 

“ 

James 

“ 

“ 

John  Towne 

4 4 

John 

July 

5, 

George  Cowan 

“ 

Elizabeth 

“ 

4 4 

Margaret  Perkins 

her  Jemima 

“ 

“ 

John  Prichard 

his 

Sarah 

“ 

19, 

Luke  Averell 

“ 

Mary 

August 

9, 

Nathan  Bixby 

“ 

Nathan 

“ 

23, 

Aaron  Estey 

“ 

Mary 

“ 

“ 

Israel  Towne 

“ 

Elizabeth 

“ 

“ 

Matthew  Peabody 

“ 

John 

September  13, 

Elizabeth,  ye  daughter 
V Emerson 

of  John  and  Elizabeth 

44 

20, 

Thomas  Potter 

his 

Sarah 

“ 

“ 

Joseph  Peabody 

it 

Joseph 

October 

4, 

Gideon  Towne 

“ 

Pheebe 

“ 

Thomas  Baker 

a 

Thomas 

44 

25, 

John  Johnston 

“ 

Mary 

“ 

4 4 

Jacob  Averell 

“ 

Daniel 

December 

6, 

Nathan11  Porter  Junr 

“ 

Daniel 

January 

24, 

1731. 

Joseph  Perkins 

“ 

Mercy 

“ 

31, 

John  Abbot 

(( 

Martha 

February 

14, 

William  Reddington 

1 1 

Jonathan 

“ 

4 4 

David  Commings 

“ 

Jonathan 

March 

21, 

Israel  Clark, 
Tobijah  Perkins 

(( 

Elijah 
Daniel  & 'j 
Edmund  }twins 

April 

28, 

18, 

Benjamin  Towne 

“ 

Eli 

<< 

«( 

Robert  Perkins 

“ 

Amos 

“ 

“ 

Samuel  Perkins 

(< 

Samuel 

“ 

“ 

Mark  How 

“ 

Aaron 

May 

16, 

Simon  Braudstreet 

“ 

Mary 

“ 

23, 

William  Meclure 

“ 

James 

June 

13, 

6 BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD. 


Sam11  Curtice 
Andrew  Delrymple 
Micall  Dwinell 
Jacob  Clark 
Joseph  Robinson 
Sam11  Brandstreet 
John  Prichard 
Jabez  Towne 
Hannah  Bowery 
Stephen  Johnson 
John  Peabody 
^fohn,  ye  son  of  John 
Joseph  Gould 
Thomas  Perkins 
Nathan  Whood 
Jacob  Dorman 
Jacob  Perkins 
Richard  Towne 
Joseph  Towne  Junr 
Jacob  Averell 
Israel  Towne 
David  Commings 
Timothy  Perkins 
Israel  Clark 
Ephraim  Wildes 
Sam11  Howlett 
Jacob  Reddington 
Aaron  Estey 
Jonathan  Perkins 
Thomas  Gould  Junr 
Gideon  Towne 
Daniel  Gould 
Mehetabell  Dodge 
Willra  Perkins  Junr 
Dan  Clark 
Josiah  Kenney 
John  Gould 
Nathan  Bixby 
Joseph  Perkins 
John  Perkins 
Thomas  Howlet 
John  Towne  Junr 
Luke  Averell 
Robert  Perkins 


his  Noah 
‘ ‘ Mary 
“ Sam11 
“ Bathsheba 
“ Joseph 
“ Elijah 
“ David 
“ Jabez 
her  Hannah 
his  Ruth 
“ Jacob 

Elizabeth  Emerson 
his  Elizabeth 
“ Enoch 
“ William 
‘ ‘ J acob 
“ Jacob 
‘ ‘ Elizabeth 
“ Jemima 
“ Dorothy 
“ Thomas 
“ Sam11 
“ Elizabeth 
“ Israel 
‘ ‘ Thomas 
“ John 
“ Dorcas 
“ Isaac 
“ Juda 
“ Thomas 
“ Abisha 
“ Ruth 
her  Sam11 
his  Willm 
“ Mary 
“ Asa 
“ Esther 
“ Solomon 
“ Icabod 
“ Moses 
“ Alice 
“ William 
“ Moses 
“ Phebee 


June  27,  1731. 

July  18, 

August  1, 

“ 29, 


September  5, 

“ 12, 

December  19, 

“ 26, 

4 4 44 

4 4 44 

January  29,  1732. 

February  6, 

“ 13, 


27, 


March  5, 

April  23, 

June  4, 

“ 11, 

“ 25, 

July  2, 

“ 23, 

August  13, 

“ 20, 

- September  24, 
October  8, 


“ 15, 

“ 29, 

December  10, 
January  7,  1733. 

“ 21, 

February  4, 


BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD.  7 


^Rebeckah,  ye  Daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
Emerson 

February 

25, 

Matthew  Peabody 

his  Sarah 

April 

1, 

Sam11  Bradstreet 

“ Eunice 

“ 

29, 

John  Prichard 

“ Martha 

4 4 

44 

Sam11  Curtice 

“ Rachel 

May 

6, 

Nathanael  Curtice 

“ Priscilla 

June 

3, 

Thomas  Perkins 

“ Susannah 

August 

5, 

Joseph  Towne 

“ Eunice 

“ 

26, 

Stephen  Johnson 

“ Rebeckah 

September  23, 

Benjamin  Towne 

“ Susannah 

October 

7, 

Sam11  Perkins 

“ Mary 

“ 

4 4 

Sam11  Towne 

“ Hannah 

4 4 

14, 

Micall  D win  ell 

“ Elisabeth 

November 

4, 

Ephraim  Wildes 

“ Jacob 

“ 

11, 

Ebenezer  Curtice 

“ Abner 

44 

4 4 

Thomas  Baker 

“ John 

“ 

25, 

Jacob  Robinson 

“ Jacob 

December 

2, 

Edmund  Towne 

“ Edmund 

4 4 

9, 

Sam11  Boyd 

“ Sam11 

44 

16, 

44  44 

“ Ann 

4 4 

“ 

44 

“ John 

4 4 

4 4 

Nathan  Porter  Junr 

“ Nathan11 

4 4 

23, 

Jabez  Towne 

‘ ‘ Mary 

“ 

30, 

Daniel  Gloyd,  of  adult 

age 

February 

3, 

Dan  Clark 

his  Daniel 

“ 

10, 

John  Lampson  Junr 

“ Ruth 

44 

“ 

Philip  Towne 

“ Dinah 

4 4 

24, 

Jacob  Dorman 

“ David 

March 

3, 

Mark  How 

‘ ‘ Mark 

“ 

10, 

Abraham  Foster  Junr 

“ Ruth 

4 4 

17, 

Jacob  Perkins 

“ Luce 

April 

14, 

Aaron  Estey 

“ Abigail 

May 

5, 

Israel  Towne 

“ Archelaus 

“ 

19, 

William  Perkins  Junr 

“ Elizabeth 

4 4 

“ 

Phineas  Reddington 

“ Dorothy 

June 

2, 

4 4 44 

“ Ann 

“ 

4 4 

“ 

“ Phineas 

“ 

4 4 

John  Towne  Junr 

“ Elijah 

“ 

4 4 

Thomas  Gould  Junr 

‘ ‘ Abner 

44 

9, 

Nathan  Towne 

“ Aaron 

September 

1, 

Daniel  Reddington 

“ Margaret 

“ 

29, 

David  Cummings 

“ Anna 

October 

20, 

Richard  Towne 

“ Sarah 

December 

1, 

8 BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD. 


Jonathan  Foster 

his  Affia 

December 

8,  1734. 

Nathan11  Curtice 

“ Nathan11 

“ 

15, 

Jonathan  Perkins 

“ Abigail 

t < 

22, 

Israel  Clark 

“ Mercy 

January 

5,  1735. 

^homas,  ye  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth 

Emer- 

son 

“ 

12, 

Robert  Perkins 

his  Martha 

“ 

“ 

Thomas  Howlett 

“ Lydia 

February 

23, 

Daniel  Gould 

“ Daniel 

April 

6, 

David  Gould 

“ Edmund 

“ 

20, 

John  Prichard 

“ Hannah 

May 

18, 

Joseph  Perkins 

“ Mary 

“ 

“ 

Joseph  Peabody 

“ Dudley 

June 

29, 

Abraham  Reddington 

“ Abraham 

“ 

Jacob  Averell 

“ Lydia 

July 

6, 

Tobijah  Perkins 

“ Jonathan 

44 

27, 

Samuell  Boyd 

“ Mary 

4 4 

4 4 

Jacob  Robinson 

“ John 

“ 

“ 

Joseph  Kneeland 

“ Edward 

August 

10, 

Ruth  Clough,  of  adult  age,  ye  wife  of 

Daniel 

Clough,  and  their  child  Elisabeth 

“ 

17, 

John  Gould 

his  Amos 

“ 

24, 

Jacob  Dorman 

“ Mercy 

4 4 

31, 

Nathan11  Wood 

“ Luce 

September 

7, 

“ “ 

“ Obadiah 

“ 

“ 

Sam11  Howlett 

‘ ‘ Mary 

“ 

14, 

Joseph  Hovey 

“ Joseph 

October 

12, 

Amos  Dorman 

“ Dudley 

“ 

“ 

Philip  Kneeland  Junr 

“ Moses 

“ 

26, 

Jacob  Reddington 

“ Pheebe 

December 

28, 

John  Town  Junr 

“ Deborah 

“ 

4t 

Nathan  Hood 

“ Mary 

January 

11,  1736. 

Ebenezer  Curtice 

“ Elizabeth 

“ 

“ 

Thomas  Baker 

“ Symonds 

“ 

18, 

Mark  How 

“ Abijah 

February 

1, 

Luke  Averell 

“ Ebenezer 

“ 

“ 

Solomon  Gould 

•“  Elisabeth 

4 4 

“ 

Amos  Dorman 

“ Amos 

“ 

22, 

John  Averell 

‘ ‘ Mary 

March 

14, 

Thomas  Dorman 

“ Judith 

“ 

“ 

Daniel  Gloyd 

“ Daniel 

“ 

21, 

Nathanael  Hood,  of  adult  age 

April 

18, 

Sam11  Bradstreet 

his  Asa 

“ 

25, 

Ephraim  Wildes 

“ Dorothy 

May 

2, 

BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD  9 


Phineas  Reddington 

his  Sarah 

May 

2, 

Benjamin  Towne 

“ Edmund 

“ 

9, 

“ “ 

“ Ezra 

“ 

“ 

“ “ “ Elijah 

all  which  were  born  at  one  birth 

“ 

Jacob  Perkins 

his  Lydia 

“ 

“ 

Mary  Dwinell,  ye  wife  of  John  Dwinell 

“ 

16, 

Dan  Clark 

his  Elijah 

June 

27, 

Aaron  Estey 

“ Esther 

July 

4, 

Thomas  Potter 

“ Thomas 

“ 

11, 

Willm  Perkins 

“ Affia 

4 6 

18, 

Thomas  Gould  Junr 

“ Asa 

“ 

25, 

Sam11  Perkins 

“ Archelaus 

August 

8, 

Wm.  Rogers 

“ Elizabeth 

4 4 

15, 

Aaron  Hubbard 

“ Mary 

“ 

44 

Philip  Towne 

“ Daniel 

“ 

29, 

David  Gould 

“ Sarah 

September  5, 

Sam11  Curtice 

“ Eunice 

“ 

12, 

Micall  Dwinell  Junr 

“ Bartholomew 

October 

24, 

“ 

“ Luce 

4 4 

“ 

“ “ 

“ Hannah 

“ 

44 

It  tt 

V^Iary,  ye  Daughter  of 
erson 

“ Micall 

John  and  Elizabeth  Em- 

<< 

31, 

Wm  Perkins 

his  Eunice 

“ 

44 

Jacob  Peabody  Junr 

“ Jacob 

November 

7, 

Israel  Clarke 

“ Sarah 

“ 

21, 

Israel  Towne 

“ Israel 

December  19, 

Philip  Kneland  Junr 

“ Elizabeth 

4 4 

“ 

Nathan11  Porter,  Junr 

“ Mary 

44 

26, 

Sam11  Smith  Junr 

“ Priscilla 

January 

2, 

Joseph  Kneland 

“ Timothy 

February  27, 

Thomas  Howlett 

“ John 

“ 

“ 

Robert  Perkins 

“ Mehitabel 

March 

13, 

Abraham  Foster  Junr 

“ Abigail 

April 

3, 

Joseph  Herrick  Junr 

“ Nehemiah 

May 

1, 

David  Cummings 

“ Susannah 

“ 

15, 

Daniel  Gould 

“ Lydia 

June 

5, 

Nathan11  Hood 

“ Samu 

“ 

12, 

Jacob  Robinson 

“ Mary 

July 

10, 

Sam11  Curtice 

“ Elijah 

August 

14, 

Jacob  Dorman 

“ Sarah 

September 

' 4, 

Jonathan  Perkins 

“ Dudley 

4 4 

11, 

Jabez  Towne 

“ Rebeckah 

“ 

“ 

1736. 


1737. 


2 


10  BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD. 


Baptized  Sarah  Gallop  a child  upon  ye  account 
of  Daniel  Reddington  who  took  her  to  bring 


up. 

September  18, 

Joseph  Peabody 

his  Elisabeth 

“ 

25, 

Ye  widow  Mary  Kenney  her  Josiah 

October 

2, 

Sam11  Howlett 

his  Davis 

“ 

16, 

Daniel  Reddington 

“ Anna 

“ 

23, 

Sam11  Smith  Junr 

“ Sam11 

4 i 

30, 

Nathan  Hood 

“ Joanna 

November  20, 

John  Towne  Junr 

“ Asa 

December 

4, 

Aaron  Estey 

“ William 

“ 

11, 

Tobijah  Perkins 

“ Mary 

“ 

26, 

Joshua  Conant 

“ Jehodin 

44 

4 4 

Mark  How 

“ Mark 

January 

1, 

Richerd  Towne 

“ Richerd 

44 

“ 

Thomas  Cummings 

“ Asa 

“ 

4 4 

Jacob  Peabody  Junr 

“ Sarah 

February 

12, 

Jonathan  Foster 

“ Philemon 

“ 

19, 

Thomas  Baker 

“ William 

“ 

26, 

Nathan11  Moulton 

“ Nathan11 

4 4 

44 

Ephraim  Wildes 

“ Thomas 

March 

12, 

Jacob  Perkins 

“ Joseph 

“ 

19, 

Sam11  Perkins 

“ Sarah 

“ 

26, 

Jonathan  Standley 

“ Abigail 

April 

2, 

John  Prichett 

“ Patience 

“ 

30, 

Amos  Dorman 

“ Thomas 

“ 

“ 

Aaron  Hubbard 

“ Lydia 

May 

14, 

Jacob  Reddington 

“ Eliphalet 

June 

11, 

^Edward,  ye  son  of  John  & Elisabeth  Emerson 

July 

16, 

Solomon  Gould 

his  Solomon 

“ 

30, 

Luke  Averell 

“ Moses 

August 

13, 

Rebeckah  Smith 

her  John 

“ 

“ 

Thomas  Dorman 

his  Thomas 

4 ( 

20, 

Sam11  Putnam 

“ Elizabeth 

September  10, 

Jacob  Dorman 

“ Damaras 

October 

8, 

John  Dwinell  Junr 

“ Ruth 

“ 

15, 

Thomas  Edwards 

“ Rice 

44 

29, 

Jabez  Town 

“ Jacob 

November 

12, 

Phineas  Reddington 

“ Phineas 

“ 

19, 

John  Averell 

“ Abiel 

“ 

26, 

Jacob  Robinson 

“ Elizabeth 

January 

7, 

Thomas  Cummings 

“ Lydia 

February 

4, 

Ebenezer  Curtis 

“ Hannah 

“ 

4 4 

Israel  Clark 

“ Sarah 

“ 

11, 

BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD.  11 


Thomas  Howlett 

his  Thomas 

March 

4,  1739. 

Joseph  Perkins 

“ Eunice 

“ 

13, 

Joseph  Kneland 

“ Miriam 

“ 

“ 

Daniel  Reddington 

“ Daniel 

“ 

25, 

Nathan11  Porter  Junr 

“ Mary 

“ 

“ 

Joseph  Peabody 

“ Jacob 

April 

8, 

Isaac  Town 

“ Lydia 

“ 

22, 

Elisha  Towne  Junr 

“ Joseph 

“ 

“ 

Israel  Towne 

“ Moses 

May 

6, 

Wm.  Perkins 

“ Elisabeth 

“ 

19, 

which  was  baptized  at  his  own  House, 

ye 

child  being  dangerously  sick. 

Dan  Clark 

his  Sam11 

June 

3, 

Nathan11  Hood  Junr 

“ Esther 

“ 

“ 

John  Perkins  Junr 

“ Timothy 

“ 

17, 

Robert  Perkins 

“ Anna 

“ 

24, 

Aaron  Estey 

“ Daniel 

July 

15, 

Jacob  Averell 

“ Mary 

August 

5, 

Amos  Dorman 

“ Daniel 

“ 

“ 

Joseph  Herrick  Junr 

“ Gideon 

“ 

26, 

Mark  How 

“ Nathan11 

September  16, 

David  Cummings 

“ Elizabeth 

“ 

30, 

Nathan11  Moulton 

“ John 

October 

14, 

baptized  by  Mr.  Emerson  of  Malden. 

Thomas  Gould  Junr 

his  Mary 

November 

U, 

Thomas  Dwinell  Junr 

“ Elijah 

“ 

25, 

Richard  Towne 

“ Hannah 

December 

16, 

John  Dwinell  Junr 

“ Susannah 

“ 

23, 

John  Lampson  Junr 

“ Robert 

January 

6,  1740. 

Jonathan  Foster 

“ Apphia 

“ 

13, 

Nathan  Hood 

“ Nathan 

<( 

4 4 

Joshua  Conant 

“ Pelutiah 

“ 

20, 

Sam11  Smith  Junr 

“ Yashti 

February 

10, 

V^orcas,  ye  Daughter 

of  John  and  Elisabeth 

Emerson 

March 

9, 

Joseph  Baker 

his  Mehetabel 

i i 

“ 

Isaac  Towne 

“ Eunice 

“ 

16, 

Jonathan  Treadwell 

“ Martha 

“ 

30, 

Joseph  Dorman 

“ Nathanael 

April 

6, 

Jonathan  Stanley 

“ Mary 

4 4 

20, 

Luke  Averell 

“ Isaac 

June 

8, 

Jonathan  Perkins 

“ Philemon 

“ 

15, 

Aaron  Hubbard 

“ Elnathan 

“ 

“ 

Ephraim  Wildes 

“ Moses 

August 

3, 

12  BAPTISMAL  BECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD 


Joseph  Curtis,  Junr,  of  adult  age,  and 

his  child 

Solomon. 

August 

10, 

Sam11  Howlett  ‘ 

4 Miriam 

44 

24, 

Thomas  Andrus  Junr  ‘ 

4 David 

September  14, 

Jacob  Dorman  ‘ 

4 Susannah 

“ 

21, 

Joseph  Hovey  ‘ 

4 Abigail 

44 

44 

Jabez  Towne  ‘ 

4 Elijah 

44 

44 

Joseph  Cummings,  Junr  ‘ 

4 Nathan11 

4 4 

28, 

Thomas  Dorman  ‘ 

4 Elizabeth 

October 

5, 

Dan  Clark  ‘ 

4 Dan 

44 

19, 

John  Perkins  Junr  ‘ 

4 Daniel 

November 

16, 

Jacob  Dwinell  ‘ 

4 Israel 

4 4 

4 4 

Eleazer  Gould  ‘ 

4 Eleazer 

January 

4, 

Thomas  Goodhall  ‘ 

4 Joseph  & 

j.  twins 

{< 

,, 

44  u i 

4 Benjamin  . 

Jacob  Robinson  ‘ 

4 Zacheus 

44 

18, 

J acob  Perkins  ‘ 

4 Zebulon 

44 

25, 

Solomon  Gould  £ 

4 Nathanael 

February 

1, 

Cornelius  Balch  ‘ 

4 Mary 

March 

15, 

Israel  Clark  ‘ 

4 Samuel 

44 

22, 

Nathan11  Porter  Junr  ‘ 

4 Phebe 

April 

5, 

Jacob  Peabody  Junr  “ 

; Nathan11 

( 4 

<( 

Elisha  Towne  Junr  “ 

Bartholomew 

<4 

12, 

Thomas  Cummings  41 

4 Thomas 

n 

44 

Sam11  Curtis  “ 

John 

“ 

19, 

Joseph  Perkins  “ 

Huldah 

44 

44 

Philip  Neeland  Junr  “ 

David 

44 

44 

John  Prichard  41 

; Priscilla 

i i 

26, 

John  Marshall  44 

Elizabeth 

May 

10, 

Nathan11  Hood  44 

Abigail 

“ 

24, 

Thomas  Baker  44 

Joseph 

4 4 

31, 

John  Batcheller  4 

4 Anna 

June 

14, 

Mark  How  “ 

Philemon 

44 

28, 

Thomas  Edwards  41 

; Rachel 

44 

44 

Aaron  Estey  44 

Esther 

July 

5, 

Amos  Dorman  44 

Daniel 

44 

12, 

John  Balch  44 

David 

44 

4 4 

Stephen  Foster  44 

Stephen 

44 

19, 

Sam11  Curtis  44 

Flora 

44 

44 

a negro  servant  child 

Simon  Gould  his  Moses 

44 

26, 

Wm  Perkins  44 

William 

August 

2, 

Joseph  Herrick  Junr  44 

William 

44 

44 

Isaac  Towne  44 

Isaac 

' » 

4 4 

4 4 

BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD.  13 


Deborah,  a Negro  servant  woman  belonging  to  August  9,  1741. 
Joseph  Herrick,  and 

Katharine,  a Negro  servant  maicl  belonging  to  “ “ 

Joseph  Porter : and 

Enos,  a child  son  of  said  Deborahs  and  her  “ “ 

husband  Sharper,  a Negro  man  servant  to 
Sam11  Gott  of  Wen  ham 


Mical  Holdgate 

his  Asa 

October 

4, 

4 4 4 4 

“ Hannah 

“ 

“ 

Thomas  Dwinell  Junr 

‘ ‘ Eunice 

“ 

25, 

Joseph  Dorman 

‘ ‘ Ephraim 

November 

15, 

Nathan  Hood 

“ Daniel 

“ 

“ 

John  Dodge 

“ Eunice 

“ 

22, 

. Abigail,  ye  Daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth 

Emerson 

December 

20, 

Mical  Holdgate 

his  Mary 

January 

24, 

Simon  Bradstreet  Junr 

“ Henry 

February 

14, 

Jacob  Estey 

“ Anna 

“ 

28, 

David  Towne 

“ Abigail 

March 

7, 

Thomas  Gould  Junr 

“ Mercy 

“ 

21, 

Thomas  Howlett 

“ Ammiruhamah 

“ 

“ 

Jonathan  Standley 

“ Sam11 

“ 

“ 

John  Balch 

“ John 

April 

4, 

Jonathan  Foster 

“ Jemima 

“ 

18, 

Ebenezer  Curtis 

“ Stephen 

“ 

25, 

Jeremiah  Towne 

“ Elisabeth 

May 

16, 

Joseph  Curtice  Junr 

“ Ruth 

4 4 

4 4 

Aaron  Hovey 

“ Stephen 

4 4 

“ 

Ruth  Dodge 

her  Mary 

“ 

23, 

Sam11  Smith  Junr 

his  Susanna 

“ 

30, 

Seabrew,  a Negro  servant  man  belonging  to 

June 

20, 

Sam11  Pearley  and 

Dinah,  a negro  servant  child  belonging  to 

“ 

44 

Thomas  Howlett 

Amos  Hood,  of  adult  age 

4 4 

27, 

John  Hood,  of  adult  age 

4 4 

“ 

Ezekiel  Potter 

his  Thomas 

44 

“ 

Jacob  Averell 

“ Priscilla 

July 

4, 

Sam11  Pearley 

“ Sam11 

August 

15, 

Jacob  Peabody  Junr 

“ John 

October 

3, 

Sam11  Potter  Junr 

“ Jeremiah 

“ 

17, 

Titus,  a Negro  servant  child  belonging  to  “ “ 

Sam11  Perkins 

Doctor  Richard  Dexter  his  Mehetabel  November  7, 


14  BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD. 


Eleazer  Gould 

his  Elisabeth 

November  14, 

Joseph  Hovey 

Mary 

44 

21, 

Thomas  Andrews 

“ 

Jonathan 

1 1 

28, 

Benjamin  Towne  Junr 

of  adult  age 

January 

16, 

Wm  Rogers 

his  Wm 

February 

6, 

Nathan11  Porter  Junr 

“ 

Daniel 

44 

44 

Elisha  Towne  Junr 

“ 

Thomas 

44 

20, 

Jacob  Perkins 

Elisha 

March 

6, 

Jacob  Robinson 

Dorothy 

44 

13, 

Luke  Averell 

4 ( 

: Elijah 

44 

20, 

Israel  Clark 

“ 

Bathsheba 

April 

10, 

Cornelius  Balch 

“ 

Martha 

“ 

44 

Abraham  Hobbs 

“ 

Isaac 

“ 

24, 

Sam11  Curtis 

“ 

Rebeckah 

May 

15, 

Thomas  Baker 

“ 

Sarah 

44 

29, 

Thomas  Symonds 

“ 

Ruth 

it 

44 

Solomon  Gould 

4 4 

Lydia 

June 

19, 

Nathan11  Hood  Junr 

44 

Sarah 

44 

44 

Ephraim  Wildes 

<< 

Ephraim  &|twing 
Elijah  1 

44 

26, 

Mary  Barall,  of  adult  age 

August 

7, 

Joseph  Peabody 

his  Priscilla 

44 

21, 

Ann  Wallis,  of  adult  age 

September 

4, 

Joshua  Conant 

his  Jerusha 

44 

11, 

Sam11  Potter  Junr 

4 Hannah 

“ 

44 

Jeremiah  Towne 

41 

1 Jeremiah 

44 

18, 

Jonathan  Perkins 

1 Sarah 

44 

25, 

Aaron  Hubbard 

1 John 

October 

2, 

Ezekiel  Potter 

Ezekiel 

44 

44 

David  Cummings 

41 

Jonathan 

44 

16, 

John  Batcheller 

ii 

John 

44 

30, 

Thomas  Edwards 

44 

Huldah 

November 

13, 

Joseph  Cummings 

44 

Abigail 

44 

44 

Sam11  Pearley 

4 4 

John 

4 4 

27, 

Isaac  Towne 

“ 

Asa 

December 

4, 

vJ51ihu,  ye  son  of  John  and  Elisabeth  Emerson 

4 4 

25, 

Nathan  Hood 

4 4 

Mary 

January 

8, 

John  Dodge 

Abel 

44 

“ 

Stephen  Poster 

44 

Nathanael 

44 

15, 

Mark  How 

44 

Hepsibah 

(< 

22, 

Daniel  Bixby 

“ 

Elisabeth 

44 

“ 

Jonathan  Stanley 

44 

John 

February 

5, 

Eleazer  Gould 

44 

Zacheus 

44 

12, 

John  Symonds 

t i 

John 

“ 

26, 

BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD.  15 


Sam11  Smith  Junr 

his  Asahel 

March 

11,  1744. 

Aaron  Hovey 

“ Moses 

<< 

18, 

John  Bradstreet 

“ Elizabeth 

“ 

“ 

David  Towne 

“ David 

“ 

25, 

John  Balch 

“ Sam11 

“ 

“ 

Isaac  Perkins 

“ Mary 

“ 

“ 

Jabez  Town 

‘ ‘ Abigail 

April 

1, 

Micall  Holdgate 

“ Sarah 

“ 

15, 

Thomas  Gould  Junr 

“ Dorcas 

May 

13, 

John  Prichard 

“ John 

<( 

20, 

Zilpah,  a Negro  Child  of  Sharper  and  Deborah 
his  wife,  Negro  Servants 

« 

( i 

Jacob  peabody  Junr 

his  Eunice 

( < 

27, 

Zilpah,  ye  child  of  Sharper  and  Katherine 
his  wife,  Negro  Servants 

<« 

<< 

Wm  Rogers 

his  Deborah 

June 

3, 

Simon  Gould 

“ Hannah 

“ 

10, 

and  after  publick  Exercise  went  to  ye  House 
of  Thomas  Dwinell,  and  baptised  Ruth  ye 

i t 

child  of  ye  widow  Susanna  Dwinell,  ye  child 
not  being  able  to  be  brot  to  ye  Meeting  House 

Divers  of  ye  chh : were  present 
John  Le  Favour  his  Mary 

(( 

17, 

Ephraim  Wildes 

“ Mary 

“ 

24, 

Thomas  Dwinell  Junr 

“ Jacob 

July 

8, 

Joseph  Perkins 

“ Joseph 

“ 

22, 

Jacob  Dwinell 

“ Jacob 

August 

12, 

Jonathan  Foster 

“ Olive 

“ 

26, 

John  Perkins,  Third 

‘ ‘ Elizabeth 

“ 

“ 

Thomas  Howlett 

“ Alice 

September 

9, 

Wm  Perkins 

‘ ‘ Oliver 

October 

21, 

Dan  Clark 

“ Dan 

November  25, 

Matthew  Peabody 

“ Seth 

December 

2, 

Ephraim  Kimball  Junr 

“ Sam11 

“ 

16, 

Nathan11  Porter  Junr 

“ Nathan11 

January 

6,  1745. 

Thomas  Symonds 

“ Anna 

il 

“ 

Joseph  Curtis  Junr 

“ Sam"  &\  twins 

<< 

20, 

David  Cummings 

“ Mary  J 
“ Stephen 

u 

27, 

Elisha  Towne  Junr 

“ Mercy 

February 

24, 

Simon  Bradstreet 

“ Philip 

March 

3, 

Simon  Bradstreet  Junr 

“ Ann 

April 

7, 

Jacob  Perkins 

“ Elisha 

“ 

14, 

Cornelius  Balch 

“ Joseph 

<< 

“ 

16  BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD. 


\ 


Nathan11  Low 

his  Jonathan 

April 

21,  1746. 

Hannah,  ye  Daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth 

Emerson 

May 

19, 

Nehemiah  Abbot 

his  Elisabeth 

“ 

“ 

Abraham  Hobbs 

“ Jacob 

June 

16, 

George  Start 

‘ ‘ Sarah 

July 

7, 

Jeremiah  Towne 

“ Susanna 

“ 

14, 

John  Symonds 

“ Mary 

“ 

21, 

John  Balch 

“ Robert 

“ 

28, 

Israel  Clark 

“ Jacob 

August 

11, 

Ezekiel  Potter 

“ Sarah 

September 

1, 

Sam11  Howlett  Junr 

“ Sam11 

a 

“ 

Daniel  Bixby 

‘ ‘ Ruth 

October 

6, 

Sam11  Pear  ley 

“ Nathaniel 

“ 

13, 

John  LeFavour 

“ Rachel 

“ 

ll 

Nathan11  Hood  Junr 

“ Susanna 

November 

3, 

John  Perkins  Junr 

“ Jethro 

“ 

24, 

Jonathan  Stanley 

“ Joseph 

December 

22, 

John  Bradstreet 

“ Priscilla 

January 

12,  1746. 

Joseph  Cummings  Junr 

“ Joseph 

“ 

19, 

Aaron  Estey 

“ Aaron 

February 

2, 

Nathan  Hood 

“ Joseph 

“ 

16, 

Ebenezer  Curtice 

‘ ‘ Ephraim 

(< 

“ 

Elisha  Cummings 

“ Mary 

“ 

“ 

Solomon  Gould 

“ John 

“ 

23, 

Stephen  Foster 

‘ ‘ Abigail 

March 

2, 

Eleazer  Gould 

“ John 

“ 

16, 

Thomas  Edwards 

“ Sarah 

“ 

30, 

Nathan11  Low 

“ Susanna 

“ 

“ 

Elijah  Porter 

“ Anna 

April 

20, 

Nathan11  Porter  Junr 

“ Pheebe 

May 

18, 

Joseph  Perkins 

“ Elisha 

“ 

25, 

Thos  Baker 

“ Mary 

June 

8, 

Tho8  Gould  Junr 

“ Benjamin 

“ 

“ 

Sharper  a Negro  Ser- 

vant man 

“ Charles 

“ 

u 

Sam11  Potter  Junr 

“ Daniel 

“ ' 

15, 

Eleazer  Lake  Junr 

“ Lydia 

July 

13, 

Jacob  Dwinell 

“ John 

“ 

27, 

Simon  Gould 

“ Jane 

August 

3, 

Aaron  Hovey 

“ Sarah 

“ 

“ 

John  Symonds 

“ Mary 

September 

7, 

David  Town 

“ Archelaus 

“ 

ii 

Joseph  Cummings 

“ Sarah 

14, 

BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD.  17 


Thomas  Dwinell  Junr 

his  Susanna 

September  14,  1746. 

Israel  Herrick 

“ Joseph 

“ 

28, 

Isaac  Perkins 

“ John 

October 

5, 

Sam11  Phippen 

“ Mercy 

“ 

12, 

“ “ 

“ Mary 

“ 

“ 

“ “ 

“ Sam11 

“ 

“ 

“ “ “ Joseph 

.^Porothy,  ye  Daughter  of  John  andElizbth  Emer 
son 

Isaac,  ye  son  of and  Katharine  his  wife 

Negro  Servants 

( i 
c c 

19, 

26, 

Ephraim  Kimball  Junr 

his  Hannah 

November 

9, 

John  Boardman 

“ Elizabeth 

4 4 

23, 

John  Prichard 

i 4 i & 

“ Ruth  & { twins 
“ Lydia  l 

December 

7, 

Ephraim  Wildes 

“ Hepzibah 

“ 

“ 

Robert  Smith 

“ Elijah 

4 4 

“ 

Joshua  Conant 

“ Lot 

“ 

28, 

Thomas  Symonds 

“ Hannah 

“ 

“ 

Benjam  Bixby 

“ Benjamin 

January 

4,  1747. 

John  Perkins  Third 

“ John 

February 

8, 

Joseph  Dorman 

‘ ‘ Abigail 

“ 

22, 

Cornelius  Balch 

“ Elizabeth 

“ 

“ 

Jacob  Aver  ell 

“ Amos 

March 

29, 

George  Starte 

“ William 

“ 

“ 

John  Balch 

* ‘ Hannah 

“ 

“ 

Nehemiah  Abbot 

“ Eleanor 

April 

5, 

Daniel  Bixby 

“ Mary 

“ 

12, 

John  Le  Favour  “ John 

which  was  baptized  at  his  House,  on  a week 
Day,  ye  child  being  Dangerously  sick,  & ex- 
pired soon  after  its  Baptism. 

15, 

Jabez  Towne 

his  Ruth 

May 

3, 

Nathan11  Aver  ell  Junr 

“ Nathan11 

44 

10, 

Eleazer  Curtice 

“ Lydia 

“ 

17, 

Zebulun  Wildes 

“ Molly 

4 4 

24, 

Micall  Holdgate 

“ Priscilla 

July 

5, 

Zebulun  Wildes 

“ Peggy 

“ 

12, 

Anthony  Potter 

“ Susanna 

44 

19, 

Joseph  Cummings  Jun 

r “ Jonathan 

“ 

26, 

Jacob  Perkins 

“ Abel 

August 

9, 

Abraham  Hobbs 

“ Joseph 

“ 

23, 

3 


18  BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD 


Rebeckah  and  Ceesar  two  Negro  Servant 
children  belonging  to  Sam11  Perkins,  whose 
wife  a Member  of  ye  chh  : Engaged  for  ye 


Children. 

August 

30, 

Elisha  Cummings 

his  John 

September  13, 

Matthew  Peabody 

“ Isaac  # 

October 

4, 

Wm.  Conant 

“ Wm. 

“ 

11, 

Sam11  Pearley 

“ Ruth 

November 

8, 

Daniel  Cummings 

“ Lucy 

“ 

15, 

Elisha  Towne,  Junr 

“ Sarah 

December 

13, 

Sam11  Phippen 

“ Hannah 

“ 

vJoseph,  son  of  John  & 

Elizabeth  Emerson 

“ 

20, 

Ezekiel  Potter 

his  Nathan11 

January 

3, 

Israel  Herrick 

“ Israel 

“ 

Israel  Clark 

“ David 

“ 

10, 

Jonathan  Standley 

“ Jedidiah 

February 

7, 

John  Le  Favour 

“ John 

March 

27, 

Nathan  Hood 

“ Benjamin 

April 

3, 

John  Symonds 

“ Joanna 

“ 

“ 

Joseph  Peabody 

“ Peggy 

“ 

17, 

Richard  Gould 

“ John 

May 

1, 

Jacob  Dwinell 

“ Mehetabel 

( C 

8, 

Sharper  a Negro  serv1 

“ Charles 

June 

3, 

Sam11  Potter 

“ Prudence 

July 

17, 

Jacob  Dresser 

“ Molly 

“ 

31, 

Eliezer  Gould 

“ Huldah 

August 

7, 

Sam11  Howlett  Junr 

“ Elizabeth 

“ 

21, 

Aaron  Estey 

“ William 

“ 

28, 

Nathan11  Porter  Junr 

“ Abigail 

September  25, 

Robert  Smith 

“ Elisha 

October 

9, 

John  Pricherd 

“ Mary 

“ 

16, 

Jeremiah  Towne 

“ Nehemiah 

“ 

23, 

John  Boardman 

“ John 

November 

6, 

John  Perkins  Third 

“ Daniel 

(4 

13, 

Mical  Coffeen 

“ Mary 

CC 

20, 

But  ye  Child  was  baptized  upon  ye  account 

of  Eliezer  Lake  & his  wife,  ye  grand  Parents, 
who  took  it  as  yr  own. 

Joseph  Hovey 

his  Joseph 

i C 

20, 

James  Andrews 

“ John 

“ 

27, 

George  Starte 

“ George 

December 

18, 

Stephen  Gould 

“ Stephen 

CC 

i t 

John  Bradstreet 

“ Molly 

4 i 

25, 

Cornelius  Balch 

“ Cornelius 

a 

U 

1747. 


1748. 


BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD.  19 


Joshua  Towne  Junr 

his  Sarah 

December 

, 18,  1748. 

Ebenezer  Averell 

“ Ruth 

January 

1,  1749. 

Elijah  Porter 

“ Bettey 

“ 

22, 

John  Perkins  Junr 

“ Esther 

“ 

29, 

Elisha  Cummings 

“ Andrew 

February 

12, 

Tho8  Foster 

“ Elijah 

March 

5, 

Tho8  Symonds 

“ Jacob 

April 

16, 

Richard  Gould 

“ Susanna 

“ 

44 

Aaron  Hovey 

“ Dorcas 

“ 

23, 

Tho8  Gould  Junr 

“ Mercy 

May 

7, 

Ephraim  Wildes 

“ Hannah 

44 

14, 

Tho8  Pearly 

“ Enoch 

“ 

21, 

David  Town 

“ Joseph 

“ 

4 4 

Eliezer  Lake  Junr 

“ Lydia 

“ 

4 4 

Simon  Gould 

“ Lucy 

“ 

28, 

Cap1  Tho8  Baker 

“ Jonathan 

July 

2, 

Joseph  Cummings 

“ Martha 

“ 

“ 

Joshua  Balch 

“ Joshua 

“ 

“ 

Zachariah  Dwinell 

“ Betty 

“ 

“ 

Stephen  Foster 

“ Jacob 

< < 

30, 

Wm  Conant 

“ Elizabeth 

“ 

“ 

Tho8  Dwinell 

“ Stephen 

August 

6, 

David  Cummings 

“ Daniel 

September 

3, 

John  Le  Favour 

“ Annah 

<( 

“ 

Mical  Holdgate 

“ Mary 

“ 

44 

Jacob  Robinson 

“ Sarah 

“ 

17, 

Nehemiah  Abbot 

“ John 

“ 

“ 

Ephraim  Kimball  Junr 

“ Ezra 

“ 

“ 

Eliezer  Gould 

“ Elizabeth 

“ 

24, 

John  Gould 

“ John 

October 

8, 

Sam11  Towne  Junr 

“ Elizabeth 

4 4 

22, 

John  Symonds 

“ Joseph 

44 

29, 

John  Hale 

“ Elizabeth 

November 

12, 

Abner  Hale 

“ David 

December 

3, 

Joseph  Perkins  Junr 

“ Jonathan 

“ 

17, 

Abraham  Hobbs 

“ Benjamin 

44 

31, 

Jonathan  Stanly 

“ Joseph 

January 

28,  1750. 

Stephen  Gould 

“ Hannah 

February 

11, 

Eleazer  Curtis 

“ Sarah 

March 

4, 

Eleazer  Killam 

“ Sarah 

“ 

4 4 

Jabez  Town 

“ Susanna 

April 

1, 

Nathan  Hood 

“ Elizabeth 

“ 

22, 

Sam11  Phippen 

“ Mehetabel 

“ 

“ 

Joseph  Curtis 

“ Pheebe 

44 

29, 

Widow  Conant 

her  Joshua 

“ 

44 

20  BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  EST  TOPSFIELD. 


Zebulun  Wildes 

his  Zebulun 

May 

27 

John  Baker 

“ Mary 

June 

10, 

Nathan11  Averell,  Jonr 

“ Hannah 

August 

19, 

James  Andrews 

“ Sam11 

“ 

“ 

Joseph,  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Emerson 

September 

9, 

Stephen  Emery 

his  John 

October 

• ) 

Joshua  Balch 

“ Archelaus 

“ 

14, 

y*  ordinance  administered  privately  y*  child 

being  Judged  dangerously  sick. 

Matthew  Peabody 

his  Deborah 

October 

28, 

John  Pricherd 

“ Huldah 

4 c 

€ £ 

Elijah  Foster 

“ Elizabeth 

“ 

“ 

Joshua  Towne  Junr 

“ Jacob 

December 

30, 

James  Curtis  Junr 

“ Hannah 

January 

20, 

Jeremiah  Towne 

“ William 

February 

3, 

John  Perkins  Junr 

“ Mary 

C£ 

( £ 

Richerd  Marshell  Junr 

4i  Richerd 

€( 

10, 

Jacob  Dwinell 

“ Ruth 

“ 

17, 

Retiah  Bacon 

“ Jacob 

“ 

“ 

George  Starte 

“ John 

€ C 

“ 

John  Hood 

Richerd 

March 

3, 

Joseph  Symonds  Junr 

“ Mehetabel 

24, 

Benjm  Bayly 

“ Elizabeth 

“ 

£ £ 

Daniel  Bixby 

“ Daniel 

April 

21, 

John  Boardman 

‘ ‘ Mary 

(( 

28, 

Elisha  Cummings 

‘ ‘ Isaac 

“ 

u 

Thomas  Foster 

“ Allen 

c £ 

“ 

Elijah  Porter 

“ Thomas 

May 

5, 

Widow  Buzzell,  her  two  children 

Ruth 

(( 

12, 

John 

££ 

<< 

John  Gould 

his  Benjm 

££ 

19, 

Robert  Smith 

“ Thomas 

June 

9, 

John  Bradstreet 

“ Mehetabel 

16, 

Tho5  Baker 

“ David 

“ 

30, 

Joseph  Cummings  Junr 

“ Hannah 

£ £ 

ft  £ 

Thos  Gould  Junr 

“ Andrew 

July 

14, 

Benjm  Bixby 

“ Anne 

£ £ 

44 

Tamar,  a negro  Servant  child  belonging  to  Eli- 

jah Porter,  who  Engaged  to  bring  it  up  in  y€ 

Christian  Religion 

£C 

“ 

David  Cummings  Junr 

his  Ebenezer 

£C 

21, 

Thomas  Dwinell 

“ Thomas 

28, 

David  Cummings  Junr 

“ Elizabeth 

September  22, 

BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD.  21 


Benjm  Woodbury 

“ Elizabeth 

October 

20,  1751. 

Aaron  Hovey 

“ Huldah 

4 4 

27, 

John  Le  Favour 

“ Robert 

Novm 

3, 

Eliezer  Lake  Junr 

“ Eliezer 

“ 

“ 

Joseph  Hale  3d 

“ Sarah 

4 b 

17, 

Jonathan  Stanley 

“ Hannah 

December 

“ 8, 

Ebenezer  Averell 

“ Ebenezer 

“ 

22, 

Abraham  Hobbs 

“ David 

January 

12,  1752. 

David  Towne 

“ Archelaus 

“ 

“ 

Amos  Wildes 

“ Mary 

Februaay 

9, 

Nathan  Hood 

“ Mehetabel 

March 

29, 

Widow  Lucy  Perkins 

her  Elisha 

4 4 

“ 

Stephen  Gould 

his  Elijah 

April 

5, 

Jenny,  a Negro  Servant  Child  belonging  to  ye 

widow  Lucy  Perkins,  who  publickly  and  sol- 
emnly Engaged  to  bring  up  sd  child  in  ye 

Christian  Religion 

May 

24, 

John  Pricherd 

his  Eunice 

June 

7, 

Abner  Hale 

“ Amos 

“ 

“ 

Simon  Gould 

“ Huldah 

4 4 

14, 

John  Lampson  3d 

“ Anna 

“ 

4 4 

Nathan11  Low 

‘ ‘ Amos 

44 

28, 

Thos  Symonds 

“ Hepsibah 

July 

5, 

Nathan11  Smith 

“ Anna 

“ 

“ 

David  Cummings 

“ Archelaus 

“ 

12, 

John  Baker 

“ Priscilla 

“ 

“ 

Joseph  Curtis 

“ Lydia 

August 

23, 

Thos  Baker  Junr 

“ Tho9 

“ 

30, 

Asa  Pearley 

“ Daniel 

October 

1, 

James  Andrew 

“ Robert 

“ 

15, 

Jacob  Gould 

“ Jacob 

44 

“ 

Joseph  Symonds  Junr 

“ Sam11 

“ 

22, 

Wm  oyles 

“ Lydia 

4 4 

4 4 

Joseph  Browne 

“ Sam11 

November 

5, 

Sam11  Towne  Junr 

‘ ‘ Thomas 

4 4 

19, 

Joseph  Gould  Junr 

“ Elizabeth 

December 

10, 

Eliezer  Gould 

“ Rebekah 

January 

7,  1753. 

Samson,  a Negro  Serv1  man  belonging  to  Doctr 

Dexter,  was  baptized 

44 

21, 

John  Creed,  of  adult  age 

“ 

28, 

John  Boardman 

“ Daniel 

February 

4, 

Tho8  Moore 

‘ ‘ Mary 

“ 

“ 

Tho®  Perkins  Junr 

“ Elisha 

44 

11, 

John  Creed 

“ Joseph 

“ 

44 

22  BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELI) 


Cap4  Tho8  Baker 

his  Rebeckah 

February 

18,  1753. 

Israel  Averell 

“ Eunice 

44 

25, 

John  Bradstreet 

“ Huldah 

“ 

“ 

John  Peabody 

“ Lucy 

April 

8, 

Lydia  Dwinell,  of  adult  age 

“ 

15, 

Tho8  Foster 

his  Abigail 

<( 

22, 

John  Clarke 

“ Hannah 

“ 

29, 

David  Perkins 

“ Ezra 

“ 

“ 

Joshua  Towne  Junr 

“ Lucy 

May 

20, 

Benjm  Bixby 

“ Sarah 

44 

27, 

Benjm  Woodbury 

“ Daniel 

4 4 

44 

Eleazer  Curtis 

“ Betty 

June 

yCornelius  Waldo,  son  of  John  & Elizabeth 
Emerson 

44 

10, 

Jacob  Curtis 

his  Jacob 

“ 

17, 

Joseph  Perkins 

“ Jacob 

4 4 

24, 

Jacob  Gould 

“ Richerd 

44 

“ 

Jonathan  Towne 

“ Jonathan 

“ 

“ 

Amos  Wildes 

“ Lois 

July 

22, 

Tho8  Gould 

“ Nathan11 

“ 

29, 

Mical  Holdgate 

“ Sarah 

August 

5, 

Ebenezer  Killem 

“ Nathan11 

“ 

44 

Tho8  Edwards 

“ Abraham 

“ 

12, 

Joseph  Edwards 

“ Andrew 

“ 

4 4 

David  Balch  Junr 

“ David 

44 

26, 

Sam11  Phippen 

“ Sarah 

September  16, 

Jonathan  Foster 

“ Jonathan 

4 4 

23, 

Joseph  Cummings  Junr 

‘ ‘ Mary 

44 

“ 

Robert  Perkins 

“ Ruth 

October 

7, 

Zebulun  Wildes 

“ Mercy 

“ 

14, 

Tho8  Dwinell 

“ Amos 

November 

4, 

Bartholomew  Dwinell 

“ Hannah 

“ 

44 

John  Perkins  Junr 

“ Elizabeth 

“ 

18, 

David  Pricherd 

“ Dolly 

44 

25, 

Nathan11  Smith 

“ Jacob 

December 

2, 

Deacon  Daniel  Gould 

“ Daniel 

“ 

9, 

Thomas  Perkins 

“ Thomas 

4 4 

<( 

Joseph  Gould 

“ Joseph 

4 4 

“ 

Daniel  Lake 

“ Daniel 

January 

27,  1754. 

Richard  Marshall 

“ Jemima 

February 

17, 

John  Gould 

“ Esther 

March 

17, 

Micall  Holdgate 

“ Hannah 

“ 

“ 

Stephen  Gould 

“ Stephen 

“ 

24, 

Philip  Neeland  Junr 

‘ ‘ Aaron 

“ 

31, 

BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPS  FIELD.  23 


Abraham  Hobbs 

his  Jonathan 

March 

31,  1754. 

John  Bradstreet 

“ Huldah 

April 

21, 

John  Le  Favour 

“ Thomas 

44 

4 4 

Aaron  Hovey 

“ Tho8 

a 

28, 

David  Towne 

“ Eunice 

May 

19, 

Joseph  Hale  3d 

“ Mary 

( 4 

26, 

Elijah  Porter 

“ Sarah 

June 

9, 

Nathan  Hood 

“ Susanna 

“ 

23, 

John  Lampson  3d 

“ Elizabeth 

July 

7, 

Joseph  Symonds  Junr 

“ Joseph 

August 

11, 

Jacob  D win  ell 

‘ ‘ Pheebe 

“ 

18, 

Sarah,  wife  of  Luis  Andrews,  baptized  LORDS 

Day  Evening  in  her  own  House  at 

her  re- 

peated  Request,  She  appearing  on  ye 

Brink  of 

Eternity  and  giving 

Christian  Satisfaction 

September  15, 

Elisha  Cummings 

his  Elisha 

“ 

29, 

Jacob  Curtice 

“ Stephen 

“ 

“ 

Eliezer  Lake  Junr 

“ Sarah 

October 

6, 

Nathan11  Low 

“ Molly 

4 4 

13, 

Edmund  Putnam 

“ Israel 

Noym 

17, 

Thomas  Moor 

“ Abigail 

December 

8th 

John  Hale 

“ Mehetabel 

February 

9,  1755. 

Jacob  Gould 

“ Ruth 

4 4 

“ 

David  Balch  Junr 

“ Sam11 

“ 

16, 

Amos  Wildes 

“ Amos 

“ 

“ 

Moses  Perkins 

“ Moses 

4 4 

4 4 

Dcn  Daniel  Gould 

“ Elisha 

“ 

23, 

Asa  Pearley 

“ Henry 

“ 

“ 

John  Cree 

“ Asa 

“ 

44 

Wm  Stickney 

“ Eunice 

March 

2d, 

Sam11  Towne  Junr 

“ Richerd 

4 4 

16, 

Joseph  Magery 

“ Sarah 

4 4 

“ 

(also  Majory) 

Jeremiah  Gallop,  of  adult  age 

4 4 

“ 

Tho8  Foster 

his  Ebenezer 

April 

6, 

John  Clark 

“ Mary 

< i 

13, 

Jonathan  Foster 

“ Moses 

“ 

“ 

Ebenezer  Averell 

“ David 

“ 

“ 

Eli  Towne 

“ Elizabeth 

“ 

20, 

Nathan11  Smith 

“ Miriam 

« < 

27, 

Benjamin  Woodbury 

“ Aaron 

May 

4, 

Paul  Pricherd 

“ Amos 

“ 

11, 

u a 

“ Jeremiah 

“ 

“ 

Daniel  Black 

“ Abigail 

“ 

“ 

24  BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD 


wh  Baptisms  (preceeding  three)  wr  administered 


in  Boxford  Meeting 

House  1st  Chh : 

Robert  Perkins 

his  Hannah 

June  l8t, 

Joseph  Towne  Junr 

“ Deborah 

“ 8th, 

Benjm  Bayley 

“ Mary 

n a 

James  Andrews 

“ James 

“ 15th, 

Thomas  Baker  Junr 

“ Sarah 

“ “ 

Israel  Herrick 

“ Elizabeth 

“ 

Archelaus  Dwinell 

“ Archelaus 

“ 29th, 

Peter  Robinson 

“ Sarah 

U U 

a a 

“ John 

a a 

Ebenezer  Killem 

“ Hannah 

July  13, 

Enoch  Perkins 

“ John 

“ 20, 

Isaac  Perkins 

“ Robert 

“ 27, 

Tho8  Perkins,  Junr 

“ Sarah 

August  24, 

George  Dwinelles  Child,  upon  ye  account 

of 

his  grand  Parents 

September  28, 

Sam11  Phippen 

his  Ruth 

November  9, 

Joseph  Cummings  Junr 

“ Jonathan 

a c c 

Simon  Gould 

“ Simon 

“ 16, 

Israel  Davis 

“ Hannah 

“ 23, 

John  Le  Favour 

“ Lydia 

December  7, 

David  Pricherd 

“ Eli 

“ “ 

Thos  Perkins 

“ William 

“ 14, 

Bartholomew  Dwinell 

“ Mical 

<< 

Cap*  Thos  Baker 


Martha 


21, 


William  Gallop,  of  adult  age  and  sd  Gallop’s 
Children,  viz,  Susanna 

Rebekah 
Hepsibah 
William 
Mary 
Love 

Sam11  Tapley  and  Abiel  his  wife,  and  Sam11  their 
youngest  Son 

John  Baker  his  John 

Timothy  Dormau  “ Eunice 

Huldah  Tapley  'j 
Alexander  Tapley  [■  of  adult  age 
Hannah  Marstin  J 
Elijah  Porter  his  Dorothy 

Isaac  Perkins  “ Isaac 

Tho8  Andrew  “ Lucy 

Joseph  Gould  “ Daniel 


January 


28, 

4th 


11, 


18, 


1755. 


1756. 


BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD.  25 


of  adult  age 


Jabez  Towne  Jnnr  his  Lydia 

Mary  Cree 
Sarah  Cree 
Phebee  Towne 
Alice,  an  Indian  woman 
Eliezer  Curtis  Junr 

one  week  Day  & in  a private  House,  he  being 
sick. 

John  Bradstreet  his  Sarah 

Prudence  Towne  'v 
Anna  Towne  & l of  adult  age 
Francis  Towne  t 
John  Boardman  his  Eunice 

Benjm  Bixby  “ Dudley 

Wm.  Gallop  “ Elizabeth 

Molly  Hood,  a child,  upon  Joseph  Hovey  & 
wifes  account,  who  engaged  to  bring 
her  up  in  ye  Christian  Religion. 


Archelaus  Dwinell 
Archelaus  Rea 

4 i a 

Jonathan  Towne 
Richerd  Cree  ^ 
f > i i > ack 


his  Amos 
“ John 
“ Archelaus 
“ Esther 


of  adult  age 


January  18,  1756. 


20, 


February  1st, 


February  8th, 
“ 29, 

March  7, 


March  28, 
April  4, 

4 4 44 

“ 11, 


Mical  Holdgate  J 

Joshua  Towne  Junr 

his  Joshua 

“ 

“ 

Tho8  Perkins  3d 

“ Archelaus 

“ 

(< 

David  Balch  Junr 

“ Israel 

(< 

25, 

Francis  Satchell 

“ John 

“ 

“ 

John  Gould 

“ Elizabeth 

May 

9, 

Stephen  Gould 

“ Abner 

“ 

4 4 

Abraham  Hobbs 

“ Elijah 

“ 

16, 

David  Perkins 

“ David 

44 

“ 

Israel  Averell 

“ Israel 

June 

13, 

Jacob  Curtice 

“ Lemuel 

“ 

27, 

Archelaus  Rea 

“ Caleb 

“ 

“ 

Eliezer  Gould 

“ Bezaleel 

July 

11, 

Joseph  Hale  3d 

“ Joseph 

“ 

“ 

Richerd  Marshall 

“ Nathan11 

“ 

18, 

Moses  Perkins 

“ Elijah 

4 4 

25, 

Moses  Pearley 

“ Sarah 

August 

1, 

at  Rowley  2d  Chh. 

Enoch  Perkins 

“ Rebeckah 

“ 

“ 

by  mr.  Chanler  at  Topsfield. 
Stephen  Perkins  his  Dorothy 

15, 

26  BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPS  FIELD. 


Stephen  Perkias 

his  Mary 

August 

15, 

Jacob  Perkins  3d 

“ Rachel 

September  5, 

Isaac  Estey 

“ Stephen 

“ 

12, 

Aaron  Hovey 

“ Ivory 

<{ 

19, 

Jacob  Wildes 

“ Lydia 

“ 

“ 

Abner  Hale 

“ Lucy 

October 

3, 

Jacob  Dwinell 

“ Ruth 

“ 

17, 

John  Lampson  3d 

“ John 

“ 

“ 

Daniel  Lake 

“ Enos 

“ 

31, 

Tho8  Moor 

“ Hannah 

t 4 

“ 

John  Perkins  Junr 

“ John 

November  28, 

Richerd  Cree 

“ Rebeckah 

“ 

“ 

Joseph  Hale  Junr 

“ Susanna 

December 

'12, 

Stephen  Symonds 

“ Mary 

44 

“ 

Widow  Abigail  Edwards  her  Mehetabel 

“ 

44 

Eliezer  Lake  Junr 

his  Robert 

January 

2, 

Nathan11  Smith 

“ Nathan11 

“ 

9, 

Jacob  Gould 

“ Elizabeth 

“ 

“ 

Jonathan  Poster 

“ Dorcas 

“ 

16, 

Solomon  Gould 

“ David 

February 

27, 

Cap1  Israel  Herrick 

“ Mary 

March 

6, 

Widow  Eunice  (?)  Dwi 

- 

nell 

her  Susanna 

“ 

20, 

Daniel  Kimball 

his  Nathan11 

April 

10, 

Joseph  Majory 

“ Joseph 

4 4 

24, 

Ebenezer  Averell 

“ Elijah 

May 

29, 

John  Le=Favour 

“ Amos 

June 

5, 

Paul  Pricherd 

“ Pearley 

“ 

12, 

Retia  Bacon 

“ Susanna 

July 

17, 

baptized  at  Boxf  ord. 
Decon  Daniel  Gould 

“ Lucy 

31, 

Amos  Wildes 

“ Asa 

4 4 

44 

John  Cree 

“ Elizabeth 

“ 

“ 

(above  three)  by  mr. 

Chanler  wr  baptized. 

Willm  Oils 

his  Lydia 

August 

7, 

Robert  Perkins 

“ Lydia 

“ 

“ 

Benjm  Bayley 

“ Susanna 

“ 

14, 

Willm  Hood 

“ Amos 

4 ft 

21, 

Jacob  Kimball 

“ Benjm 

“ 

“ 

Benjm  Woodbury 

“ John 

“ 

28, 

Bartholomew  Dwinell 

“ Sarah 

Septemb1 

4, 

Jabez  Towne  Junr 

“ Moses 

“ 

11, 

Michael  Chute 

“ Joseph 

44 

25, 

baptized  at  Newbury. 

1756. 


1757. 


BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD.  27 


Joseph  Knight 

his  John 

October 

2,  1757. 

Paul  Averell 

“ Joseph 

“ 

6 6 

Joseph  Hutchinson 

“ Joseph 

“ 

6 6 

Bimsley  Peabody 

“ Bimsley 

«« 

“ 

Amos  Curtis 

“ Rachel 

“ 

“ 

Daniel  Peabody 

“ Dorothy 

“ 

<« 

baptized  at  Middleton 
Thos  Perkins 

(above  six) 
his  Jemima 

«« 

9, 

Cap1  Israel  Davis 

“ Israel 

1 1 

16, 

John  Peabody 

“ Hannah 

“ 

“ 

John  Hood 

“ Eunice 

“ 

23, 

John  Grant 

“ Prudence 

“ 

“ 

Timothy  Dorman 

“ Timothy 

“ 

30, 

Elijah  Porter 

“ Hannah 

November 

6, 

Joseph  Gould 

“ Priscilla 

“ 

13, 

Tho8  Kimball 

“ Huldah 

December 

4, 

Joseph  Cumings  Junr 

“ Hannah 

January 

8,  1758. 

Simon  Gould 

“ Elijah 

March 

5, 

^Sarah  Daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
Emerson. 

12, 

Pelatiah  Cummings 

his  Pelatiah 

66 

< ; 

Nathan11  Low 

“ Molly 

66 

26, 

John  Bradstreet 

“ Lucy 

April 

2, 

Stephen  Gould 

“ Eunice 

“ 

“ 

Nathan11  Smith 

“ Ruth 

“ 

9, 

Moses  Perkins 

“ Tho8 

l 6 

6 6 

Eliezer  Gould 

“ Jedidiah 

“ 

16, 

Jonathan  Towne 

“ Amos 

“ 

30, 

Jonathan  Bixby 

“ David 

May 

17, 

Baptized  on  a week  Day  in  ye  2d  Parrish  in 
Boxford  in  a Private  House,  ye  child  being 
sick.  Also  baptized. 

Stephen  Emery  his  Betty 

sd  Emery  going  in  to  ye  War. 

Sam11  Phippen  his  Jonathan- Atwater  “ 

21st, 

James  Andrews 

“ Amasa 

66 

28th, 

Stephen  Symonds 

“ Martha 

June 

4, 

Benjm  Bixby 

“ Enos 

66 

11, 

John  Baker 

“ Moses 

“ 

25, 

Jacob  Dwinell 

“ Abigail 

July 

9, 

Tho8  Dwinell 

“ Hannah 

“ 

“ 

Archelaus  Rea 

“ Mary 

August 

20, 

Isaac  Estey 

“ Abigail 

September  10, 

John  Lampson  3d 

“ Abigail 

“ 

17, 

Joseph  Hale  3d 

“ Hannah 

October 

3, 

28  BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD. 


Retia  Bacon 

his  Molly 

October 

8,  1758. 

Daniel  Kimball 

“ John 

“ 

22, 

Stephen  Perkins 

“ Abigail 

Novbr 

12, 

Fuller 

“ John 

“ 

26, 

baptized  at  Middleton. 

Jacob  Kimball 

“ Mehetabel 

Decembr 

3, 

Tho8  Moor 

“ Elizabeth 

i C 

“ 

Tho8  Gould  Junr 

“ Dorcas 

“ 

“ 

Widow  Martha  Dwinell  her  Jonathan 

“ 

10, 

Wm  Gallop 

his  Amos 

“ 

24, 

Amos  Wildes 

“ Dudley 

January 

7,  1759. 

David  Balch  Junr 

“ Tho8 

February 

4, 

Tho8  Kimball 

“ Sarah 

1 C 

“ 

Zebulun  Wildes 

“ Ezra 

March 

4, 

Deacon  Daniel  Gould 

“ Sam11 

U 

11, 

John  Peabody 

“ Mehetabel 

“ 

“ 

Tho8  Baker  Junr 

“ Olive 

April 

1, 

John  Le=Favour 

“ Ruth 

“ 

8, 

Jacob  Gould 

“ Edna 

<« 

(4 

Sam11  Cummings 

“ Sarah 

(C 

15, 

Abraham  Hobbs 

“ Susanna 

“ 

22, 

David  Perkins 

“ Mercy 

“ 

< ( 

James  Burch 

“ Jedidiah 

May 

8, 

Solomon  Gould 

“ Ruth 

“ 

13, 

Joseph  Cummings  Junr 

“ Mehetabel 

“ 

“ 

Abner  Curtis 

“ Abner 

“ 

20, 

baptized  at  Boxford 

1st  chh. 

Tho8  Perkins 

his  Rebeckah 

June 

3, 

ye  last  Child  baptized  in  ye  old  Meeting  House. 

Elijah  Bradstreet 

his  Elizabeth 

“ 

24, 

Eliezer  Gould 

“ Aholiab 

July 

16, 

baptized  in  Private  y1 

e Child  apprehended  to 

be  dangerously  ill. 

Sam11  Towne  Junr 

his  Enos 

August 

12, 

Joseph  Gould 

“ Sarah 

“ 

26, 

John  Cree 

“ Cornelius 

Septembr 

16, 

Daniel  Lake 

“ Henry 

“ 

23, 

Wm  Hood 

“ Lydia 

October 

21, 

Benjm  Bixby 

“ Asa 

November 

25, 

Joseph  Magory 

“ Hannah 

“ 

a 

Benjm  Bayley 

‘ ‘ Mehetabel 

December 

23, 

Joseph  Andrew 

“ Hepsibah 

January 

13,  1760. 

Bartholomew  Dwinell 

“ Lucy 

“ 

“ 

John  Hood 

“ John 

March 

2, 

BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD.  29 


Tho8  Foster 

his  Mehetabel 

March 

2,  1760. 

Eliezer  Lake  Junr 

“ Mehetabel 

4 ( 

16, 

Smith 

“ Mary 

April 

6, 

baptized  at  Rowley,  2d  Parrish. 

Benjm  Woodbury 

his  Lydia 

“ 

13, 

Jacob  Perkins  Junr 

“ Daniel 

44 

20, 

Pelatiah  Cummings 

“ Lydia 

44 

27, 

Tho9  Perkins 

“ Moses 

May 

4, 

John  Lamp  son  3d 

“ Abigail 

4 4 

11, 

Robert  Perkins 

“ Robert 

June 

1, 

Wm  Jewett 

“ Sam11 

“ 

8, 

Daniel  Aver  ell 

“ Sarah 

“ 

22, 

Amos  Perkins 

“ Kezia 

August 

8, 

Joseph  Lystia  (?) 

“ Joseph 

“ 

10, 

Enoch  Perkins 

“ Enoch 

44 

“ 

John  Bradstreet 

“ Eunice 

u 

17, 

Isaac  Estey, 

“ Hannah 

“ 

baptized  by  Mr  Holyoak  (above  two) 

David  Kenney 

his  David 

September  28, 

baptized  at  Middleton. 

John  Le-Favour 

“ Wm 

“ 

4 4 

baptized  at  Topsfield  by  Mr  Smith. 

Thos  Howlett 

his  Sarah 

October 

12, 

Molly  Hoopper,  of  adult  age,  upon  owing  ye 

“ 

19, 

Cov1  was  baptized : 

also  a 

Negro  Servt  Child,  named  Dinah,  ye  Master 

4 4 

“ 

and  Mistress  Engaging  to  instruct  sd  child  in 

ye  Christian  Religion. 

Richard  Cree 

his  Stephen 

December  28, 

Deacon  Daniel  Gould 

“ Lydia 

January 

11,  1761. 

Jeremiah  Dodge 

‘ ‘ Abigail 

Febry 

1, 

Joseph  Towne 

“ Elizabeth 

“ 

22, 

Jacob  Gould 

“ Susanna 

44 

4 4 

Jacob  Kimball 

“ Jacob 

“ 

“ 

Tho8  Moors 

“ Lois 

March 

1, 

Dan11  Lake 

“ Jonathan 

“ 

22, 

Joseph  Gould 

‘ ‘ Mary 

“ 

29, 

Thos  Baker  Junr 

“ Mary 

April 

12, 

David  Balch  Junr 

“ Tho8 

“ 

“ 

Moses  Perkins 

“ David 

4 4 

“ 

baptized  by  mr  Holyoak  (above  three) 

Ceesar,  a Negro  Servant  Child,  belonging  to  “ 19, 

Sam11  Cummings  : ye  Master  & Mistress  en- 
gaging to  instruct  and  bring  up  ye  child  for 
GOD. 


30  BAPTISMAL  BECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD 


ThoB  Gould  Junr 

his  Anna 

May 

17,  1761 

John  Jacobs 

“ Mary 

June 

14, 

Tho8  Dwinell 

“ Molly 

July 

26, 

Jn°  Fraser 

“ Elizabeth 

August 

16, 

baptized  at  Byfleld. 

Joseph  Cummings 

“ Elijah 

Septemb1 

27, 

Jonathan  Towne 

“ Pheebe 

October 

4, 

Nathan11  Duston 

“ Ebenezer 

“ 

18, 

Amos  Bayley 

“ Ednah 

“ 

(< 

“ “ 

“ Woodbridge 

“ 

(« 

Amos  Page 

‘ ‘ Parker 

i i 

“ 

“ 

“ Abia 

“ 

“ 

Ebenezer  Mitchell 

“ Esther 

“ 

“ 

Timothy  Eaton 

“ Timothy 

“ 

< , 

baptized  in  Haverhill,  West  Parish. 

(above  seven) 

Dan11  Kimball 

his  Eunice 

Novbr 

1, 

Francis  Towne 

“ Lydia 

Decembr 

6, 

Wm  Gallop 

“ Enos 

i i 

13, 

Tho8  Howlett 

“ Lydia 

44 

“ 

Davis  Howlett 

“ Cornelius 

ii 

27, 

Richerd  Lang 

“ Benjm 

February 

6,  1762. 

baptized  at  Salem 

Wm  Hood 

“ Susanna 

i i 

21, 

baptized  (by)  Mr  Holyoak. 

Ensign  Solomon  Gould  his  Amos 

44 

28, 

Stephen  Hovey 

“ Aaron 

March 

14, 

Isaac  Perkins 

“ Pheebe 

“ 

21, 

Tho8  Foster 

“ Dan11 

“ 

“ 

John  Hood 

“ Sam11 

ii 

28, 

Bartholomew  Dwinell 

“ Bartholomew 

“ 

ti 

Tho8  Perkins  Junr 

“ Dan11 

April 

4, 

Amos  Wildes 

“ Jamme 

ii 

11, 

Jn°  Clough 

“ Jn° 

“ 

25, 

Tho8  Perkins 

“ Susanna 

May 

9, 

Benjm  Bixby 

“ George 

“ 

ii 

Solomon  Gould  Junr 

“ Nathan11 

“ 

44 

Sam11  Cummings 

“ David 

ii 

23, 

Nathan11  Low 

“ Jonathan 

June 

20, 

Robert  Perkins 

“ Asa 

“ 

i i 

Danu  Aver  ell 

“ Danu 

“ 

i i 

John  Le-Favour 

“ Sarah 

July 

4, 

Jn°  Peabod  [y] 

“ Jn° 

18, 

Jn°  Baker  Junr 

‘ ‘ Mary 

it 

25, 

baptized  (by)  Mr  Chanler. 


BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD.  31 


Tho8  Wildes 

his  Jacob 

September  26, 

David  Towne 

“ Tho8 

October 

17, 

Jeremiah  Foster 

“ Joshua 

<< 

24, 

Jacob  Hazen 

“ Jacob 

“ 

(< 

baptized  at  Boxford,  1st  Parrish. 

Peletiah  Cummings 

his  Mehetabel 

“ 

31, 

Elijah  Clarke 

“ Humphrey 

“ 

“ 

Tho8  Hodgdon 

“ Rebekah 

November 

14, 

John  Lampson  Junr 

“ Ruth 

“ 

28, 

Deacon  Dan11  Gould 

“ Ruth 

December 

5, 

Eliezer  Lake  Junr 

“ Joseph 

“ 

12, 

Benjm  Bayley 

“ Benjm 

<< 

19, 

Isaac  Averell 

“ Elijah 

“ 

26, 

David  Balch  Jun1' 

“ Richerd 

January 

2, 

Tho8  Moor 

“ Deborah 

“ 

16, 

Joseph  Gould 

“ Emerson 

“ 

23, 

Tho8  Gould  Junr 

“ Benjm 

“ 

30, 

Jacob  Kimball 

“ Priscilla 

March 

13, 

Francis  Towne 

“ Pheebe 

April 

10, 

John  Jacobs 

“ Sarah 

“ 

24, 

Wm  Hood 

“ Moses 

May 

22, 

Joseph  Andrews 

“ Joseph 

C t 

29, 

Sam11  Towne  Junr 

“ Mary 

June 

19, 

John  Herrick 

“ Anna 

July 

31, 

Timothy  Eaton 

“ James 

August 

14, 

baptized  in  ye  West  Parrish  in  Haverhill. 

Dan11  Reddington 

his  Dan11 

September 

4, 

Elijah  Clarke 

“ Mary 

“ 

11, 

Richard  Cree 

“ Molly 

October 

16, 

Tho8  Howlett 

“ Elizabeth 

U 

23, 

Archelaus  Rea 

“ Uzziel 

November 

6, 

Stephen  Foster  Junr 

“ Nathan11 

“ 

“ 

Dan11  Hood 

“ Lucy 

<« 

“ 

Dan11  Kimball 

“ Dudley 

<6 

27, 

baptized  by  ye  Revd  m 

r Holyoake. 

Nathan  Hood  Junr 

his  Nathan11 

December 

4, 

Bartholomew  Dwinell 

“ Anna 

“ 

18, 

Davis  Howlett 

“ Molly 

i < 

i l 

Cap*  Tho8  Cummings 

“ Israel 

“ 

25, 

Joseph  Cummings 

“ Amos 

U 

“ 

Sam11  Bradstreet 

“ Sam11 

January 

8, 

Amos  Perkins 

“ Betty 

February 

12, 

Stephen  Hovey 

‘ ‘ Mary 

March 

4, 

Peter  Chever 

“ Peter  Osgood 

“ 

18, 

baptized  at  Salem. 


1762. 


1763. 


1764. 


32  BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD 


Joseph  Perkins 

his  Jacob 

March 

25, 

Stephen  Towne  Junr  i 

and 

April 

15, 

Sarah,  wife  of  Elijah  Dwinell, 

“ 

“ 

both  of  adult  age : 

also 

John  Le-Favour 

his  Joseph 

“ 

“ 

Sara11  Harris  Junr 

“ Sarah 

“ 

“ 

Thos  Perkins 

“ Dan11 

“ 

22, 

Tho8  Cummings  Junr 

“ Jonah 

“ 

“ 

Sam11  Cree  and 

66 

29, 

Stephen  Perkins  Junr 

“ 

66 

both  of  adult  age 

Tho8  Perkins  Junr 

“ Israel 

May 

20, 

David  Balch  Junr 

<<  ^ym 

“ 

27, 

John  Baker  Junr 

“ John 

July 

8, 

John  Peabody 

“ Mehetabel 

August 

12, 

Daniel  Lake 

“ Nathan 

6 6 

19, 

Solomon  Curtis 

“ Sam11 

“ 

26, 

by  mr  Chandler 

Jacob  Gould 

“ Jacob 

September  9, 

Edmund  Towne 

“ Edmund 

6 6 

23, 

John  Clough 

“ Oliver 

“ 

6 6 

by  mr  Lesslie  (above  two) 

I baptized  at  Newbury-Port 

Benjm  Moody 

his  Benjm  & 

(< 

“ 

Richerd 

“ Richerd 

“ 

“ 

Peter  Emerson 

“ Abigail 

October 

14, 

James  Chase 

“ Sarah 

“ 

“ 

Enoch  Herriman 

“ Sarah 

“ 

“ 

John  Bradley 

“ Mary 

“ 

“ 

baptized  at  Haverhill  West  Parrish. 

John  Balch 

his  Cornelius 

“ 

21, 

“ 

“ Roger 

“ 

6 6 

4 4 (4 

“ Rebekah 

“ 

“ 

Benjm  Bixby 

“ Rachel 

“ 

“ 

Isaac  Averell 

“ Joseph 

November  4, 

Tho8  Gould  Junr 

“ Anna 

6 6 

11, 

Pelatiah  Cummings 

“ Sarah 

December  2, 

Solomon  Gould 

“ Solomon 

“ 

16, 

Dan11  Hood 

“ Jacob 

January 

13, 

Joseph  Gould 

“ John 

6 6 

27, 

Tho8  Moor 

“ Tho8 

66 

tt 

John  Jacobs 

“ Rebekah 

6 6 

“ 

Nathan  Hood  Junr 

“ Nathan 

March 

30, 

Tho8  Howlett 

“ John 

66 

17, 

Amos  Porter 

“ Lydia 

April 

7, 

BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD.  33 


Joseph  Perkins 

his  Anna 

May  19,  1765. 

Thos  Perkins 

“ Rachel 

June  2, 

Joseph  Perkins 

“ Anna 

“ 

Jacob  Kimball 

“ Anna 

“ 9, 

Francis  Towne 

“ Rebekah 

4 4 4 4 

Nathan11  Fiske 

“ Nathan11 

“ 

Isaac , Pearl  cy 

“ Isaac 

“ 23, 

baptized  at  Boxford  first  Parish. 

\JJJhomas  Emerson 

his  Billy 

August  4, 

Thomas  Wildes 

“ Daniel 

“ 11, 

baptized  by  mr  Holyoak. 

John  Lampson  Junr 

his  Sarah 

“ 25, 

Stephen  Foster  Junr 

“ Matta 

“ “ 

Peter  Chever 

“ Sam11  and 

September  8, 

Arclielaus  Hayward 

“ Arclielaus 

“ 

baptized  at  Salem  & mr  Lesslie  baptized  at 

Topsfield 
Dan11  Averell 

his  Solomon 

« « 

Jacob  Andrews 

“ Nathan11 

“ 15, 

baptized  at  Boxford  & 
mr  Holyoake  baptized  at  Topsfield 

Dan11  Kimball 

his  Joseph 

“ “ 

Stephen  Hovey 

“ Abigail 

“ 29, 

John  Bradstreet 

“ Dudley 

October  13, 

Joseph  Andrews 

“ Salome 

November  3, 

Abraham  Hobbs  Junr 

“ Elizabeth 

4 4 4 4 

Thomas  Cummings 

“ Joseph 

December  22, 

Benjamin  Bayley 

“ Dinah 

January  26,  1766. 

John  Le-Favour 

“ Amos 

February  2, 

Sam11  Bradstreet 

“ Ruth 

March  23, 

Thomas  Foster 

“ Thomas 

“ 30, 

Thomas  Perkins  Junr 

“ Hannah 

“ 

Widow  Yashti  Curtis 

her  Solomon 

April  13, 

Sam11  Towne  Junr 

his  Elizabeth 

May  25, 

John  May 

“ Abigail 
“ Elizabeth 

4 4 4 ( 

John  May 

“ John 

June  8, 

Deacon  Dan11  Gould 

“ Moses 

“ 22, 

Sam11  Harris 

“ Mary 

4 4 4 4 

Jeremiah  Towne  Junr 

“ Asa 

July  6, 

Dan11  Reddington 

“ Jacob 

August  10, 

Thos  Perkins 

“ Lydia 

October  12, 

also  baptized 
Elizabeth  Robinson  of 

adult  age 

o 

5 


34  BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD. 


Tho8  Gould  Junr 

his  Sarah 

November 

2,  1766. 

Jacob  Gould 

“ Lois 

“ 

9, 

Daniel  Hood 

“ Ruth 

“ 

“ 

Isaac  Hobbs 

“ Sarah 

“ 

16, 

Archelaus  Rea 

“ Sarah 

“ 

23, 

Sam11  Perkins 

“ Elijah 

“ 

30, 

Philip  Thomas 

“ Mary 

“ 

“ . 

Philip  Thomas 

“ Francis 

January 

25,  1767. 

Joseph  Gould 

“ Cornelius 

February 

1, 

Pelatiah  Cummings 

“ Isaac 

“ 

“ 

Daniel  Averell 

“ Joanna 

March 

15, 

Daniel  Lake 

“ Sarah 

“ 

22, 

Thomas  Howlett 

“ Mary 

“ 

“ 

Wm  Hood 

“ Aaron 

April 

5, 

Nathan11  Pearley 

“ Mehetabel 

“ 

12, 

baptized  at  Box  ford  first  Parish. 

Benjamin  Marshall 

his  Mary 

May 

17, 

Jacob  Goodhue 

“ Anna 

“ 

“ 

a u 

“ Martha 

“ 

“ 

Jonathan  Cogswell 

“ Hannah 

“ 

“ 

U U 

“ Benjamin 

“ 

4 4 

baptized  at  Chebacco,  in  Ipswich. 

Jonathan  Towne 

his  Jedidiah 

“ 

24, 

baptized  at  Boxford  first  Parish ; 

mr  Hovey  baptized 

at  Topsfield 

Nathan11  Fisk 

his  Ruth 

“ 

“ 

John  Bacheller  Junr 

“ Lydia 

“ 

31, 

Nathan11  Averell  Junr 

“ Nathan11  Perkins 

June 

14, 

Thomas  Wildes 

“ Huldah 

“ 

28, 

Sam11  Bradstreet 

“ Elijah 

July 

5, 

Isaac  Averell 

“ Isaac 

August 

9. 

Joseph  Perkins 

“ Henry 

“ 

23, 

baptized  by  mr  Holyoke. 

Jacob  Kimball 

his  Lucy 

September  6, 

Sam11  Cummings 

“ Mehetabel 

“ 

“ 

Francis  Towne 

“ Francis 

“ 

“ 

Nathan11  Hood  Junr 

“ Enos 

13, 

Davis  Howlett 

“ Martha 

“ 

“ 

Aaron  Estey  Junr 

“ Joseph 

4 4 

“ 

Abraham  Hobbs  Junr 

“ Lydia 

i i 

27, 

Sam11  Perkins 

“ Dolly 

October 

18, 

Robert  Perkins 

“ Mehetabel 

November  29, 

Isaac  Hobbs 

“ Elijah 

January 

24, 1768. 

John  Batcheller  Junr 

“ John 

“ 

U 

BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD.  35 


Jacob  Hobbs 

his  Jacob 

February 

21, 

icherd  Potter 

“ Lydia 

March 

6, 

artholomew  Dwinell 

“ Huldali 

“ 

27, 

Baptized  in  Salem,  in  ye  Cbh  y*  belonged 

to 

ye  Revd  mr  Huntington  lately  deceased  : 

Benjm  Peal 

his  Hannah  and 

April 

17, 

Edmund  Bickford 

“ Nathan11 

“ 

4 4 

Solomon  Gould 

“ Mehetabel 

May 

8, 

Thos  Perkins  Junr 

“ Israel 

“ 

15, 

Nathaniel  Thomas 

“ Esther 

“ 

22, 

Thomas  Cummings 

“ Thomas 

“ 

29, 

Thomas  Perkins 

“ Zacheus 

June 

19, 

John  Baker  Junr 

“ Thomas 

“ 

“ 

John  Balch  Junr 

“ Sarah 

“ 

“ 

Cap11  Wm  Peabody 

“ Molly 

July 

17, 

baptized  at  Middleton. 

Eliezer  Lake  Junr 

“ Elizabeth 

4 4 

31, 

Jacob  Towne 

“ Jacob 

“ 

“ 

baptized  by  mr  Holyoke  (above  two) 

Joseph  Hood 

his  Sarah 

August 

14, 

John  Lampson  Junr 

“ Lois 

4 4 

28, 

John  May 

“ Elizabeth 

4 4 

“ 

Asa  Smith 

“ Stephen 

“ 

“ 

Richerd  Tenney 

‘ ‘ Richerd 

September  11, 

baptized  at  Rowley  2d  Parrish. 

mr  Clianler  baptized  in  Topsfleld 

John  Hood 

his  Esther 

“ 

“ 

Thomas  Moore 

“ Josiah 

44 

18, 

"^Thomas  Emerson 

“ Thomas 

“ 

4 4 

Thomas  Howlett 

“ Allice 

October 

16, 

baptized  at  Boxford  first  Parrish. 

Richerd  Cree 

his  Joshua 

December 

4, 

by  mr  Leslie. 

Jacob  Gould 

“ Sarah 

4 4 

18, 

Philip  Thomas 

“ Dudley 

“ 

25, 

Joseph  Gould 

“ Sarah 

February 

5, 

Thomas  Gould  Junr 

“ Thomas 

March 

5, 

Sam11  Perkins 

‘ ‘ Dudley 

“ 

12, 

Dan11  Reddington 

“ John 

4 4 

“ 

Abraham  Hobbs  Junr 

“ Salome 

“ 

“ 

Pelatiah  Cummings 

“ Abigail 

“ 

19, 

Francis  Towne 

“ Sarah 

“ 

26, 

John  Dwinell  of  adult  age 

April 

9, 

36  BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD 


Joseph  Perkins 

his  Jabesh 

April 

9,  1769. 

Samuel  Towne  Junr 

“ Allen 

May 

7, 

Isaac  Hobbs 

“ Priscilla 

U 

28, 

Samuel  Bradstreet 

“ Elijah 

June 

4, 

Nathan  Hood  Junr 

li  i i 

“ Thomas  ) 

“ Amos  }twins 

“ 

David  Balcli  Junr 

“ Joshua 

(« 

11, 

baptized  by  mr  Ilolyoake. 
Deacon  John  Patch  his  Joseph 

18, 

John  Brown 

“ Martha 

“ 

“ 

Edward  Lampson 

“ Daniel 

d 

“ 

George  Adams 

“ Hannah 

“ 

“ 

David  Thompson 

“ Jacob 

< i 

“ 

Ezra  Knowlton 

“ Ezra 

“ 

“ 

Andrew  Dodge 

“ Sarah 

“ 

“ 

baptized  at  Ipswich  Hamlett  (above  seven) 
Benjamin  Bayley  his  Billy 

c< 

25, 

Samuel  Cree 

“ Samuel 

“ 

“ 

Moses  Perkins 

“ Daniel 

July 

16, 

Aaron  Estey  Junr 

‘ ‘ Hannah 

August 

6, 

baptized  by  mr  Lesslie. 
Nathana11  Eiske  “ John 

20, 

Daniel  Averell 

“ Solomon 

“ 

27, 

Bartholomew  Dwinell 

“ Lydia 

September  10, 

John  Clough 

“ Nathan11 

October 

1, 

“ 

“ Eunice 

<( 

“ 

Isaac  Averell 

“ Moses 

“ 

“ 

Joseph  Hood 

“ Joseph 

November 

28, 

Thomas  Moor 

“ Josiah 

December 

10, 

John  Peabody 

“ Ebenezer 

“ 

17, 

John  Gould  Junr 

“ Nabby 

“ 

31, 

Jacob  Kimball 

“ Lydia 

January 

28,  1770. 

baptized  by  mr  Holyoke. 

Thomas  Perkins  his  Reuben 

February 

25, 

Daniel  Hood 

‘ ‘ Daniel 

“ 

“ 

John  Batch  ell  er  Junr 

“ Joseph 

March 

18, 

Asa  Smith 

“ Asa 

i l 

25, 

Benjamin  Kimball 

“ Abraham 

April 

8, 

Thomas  Cummings 

“ Nathan11 

June 

24, 

Henry  Bradstreet 

“ Henry 

July 

15, 

Elisha  Perkins 

“ Elisha 

< i 

22, 

Archelaus  Rea 

“ Anna 

August 

19, 

Isaac  Hobbs 

“ Isaac 

l i 

“ 

BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPS  FIELD.  37 


Robert  Balch  his  Hannah 

Stephen  Perkins  Junr  “ Richerd 
Jacob  Dwinell  “ Eunice 

baptized  at  Boxford  first  Parish. 
Abraham  Hj>w  Junr  his  Abraham 
baptized  at  Line  Brook. 

Mr  Lesslie  baptized  at  Topsfield 


August  19,  1770. 

September  9, 

“ 23, 

October  28, 


Jacob  Gould 

his  Kezia 

“ 

“ 

John  Baker  Junr 

Ebenezer ) 

“ 

Emerson  }twins 

December  23, 

Thomas  Gould  Junr 

“ 

Ezra 

“ 

“ 

Joseph  Perkins 

“ 

Hannah 

March 

17, 

Daniel  Recldington 

44 

Adam 

“ 

4 4 

Jacob  Dwinell  Junr 

“ 

Israel 

4 4 

4 4 

Aquila  Wilkins 

“ 

Edna 

April 

7, 

Abner  Wilkins 

“ 

Eunice 

“ 

“ 

baptized  at  Middleton  (above  two) 

John  Peabody 

his  Molly 

May 

12, 

Moses  Perkins 

“ 

Anna 

June 

2, 

Oliver  Towne  of  adult  age 

4 4 

9, 

Jedidiah  Peabody 

his  Mary 

July 

21, 

baptized  at  Boxford. 

yThomas  Emerson 

“ 

John 

4 4 

28, 

Thomas  Perkins  Junr 

“ 

Peggy 

August 

11, 

Benjamin  Bixby  Junr 

“ 

Sarah 

4 4 

25, 

Henry  Bradstreet 

< i 

Nathan11 

October 

6, 

Pelatiah  Cummings 

“ 

Abigail 

“ 

13, 

baptized  bymr  Holyoake. 

Joseph  Gould 

his 

Abigail 

“ 

27, 

Bartholomew  Dwinell 

“ 

Mical 

November 

17, 

Amos  Perkins 

“ 

Sarah 

“ 

“ 

baptized  by  mr  Adams  (above  two) 

Samuel  Clarke 

“ 

Anna 

D ecembr 

1, 

Stephen  Towne  Junr 

“ 

Enos 

“ 

15, 

Samu  Bradstreet 

“ 

John 

4 4 

22, 

Cornelius  Balch 

“ 

Nabby 

“ 

“ 

Philip  Thomas 

“ 

Eunice 

February 

2, 

Sam11  Perkins 

“ 

Molly 

“ 

16, 

Daniel  Hood 

“ 

Abner 

4 4 

23, 

Robert  Balch 

“ 

Robert 

4 4 

44 

Joseph  Hood 

“ 

Dorcas 

“ 

4 4 

Nathan11  Fiske 

“ 

Lydia 

March 

1, 

Asahel  Smith 

“ 

Jesse 

“ 

8, 

38  BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD. 


Asahel  Smith 

his  Priscilla 

March 

8,  1772 

“ “ 

“ Joseph 

4 4 

“ 

Oliver  Perkins 

“ Oliver 

“ 

“ 

Joseph  Andrews 

“ Ephraim 

April 

12, 

Benjm  Kimball 

“ Hannah 

“ 

4 4 

Abraham  Hobbs  Junr 

“ Abraham 

April 

* 19, 

Jacob  Kimball 

“ David 

26,  1771. 

Isaac  Hobbs 

“ Priscilla 

“ 

“ 

Isaac  Averell 

“ Phebe 

May 

3, 

John  Curtice 

“ Sarah 

“ 

10, 

baptized  at  Boxford, 
Isaac  Dempsy 

1st  Parrish, 
his  Frances 

4* 

17, 

baptized  at  Danvers. 

Asa  Smith 

“ Molly 

44 

24, 

John  Gould  Junr 

“ Becka 

4 4 

31, 

Molly,  wife  of  Samuel 

Page,  & also  baptized 

their  Child,  Samu 

June 

28, 

Thomas  Moor 

“ Sarah 

July 

5, 

John  Balch  Junr 

(4  4 4 

“ Mehetabel  l 
“ Martha  ltwlns 

“ 

“ 

Stephen  Perkins  Junr 

“ Nabby 

“ 

12, 

Dan11  Clarke 

“ Elijah 

August 

28, 

ye  ordinance  administered  at  sd  Clarke8 
House  ye  Child  being  dangerously  ill. 
Solomon  Gould  his  Martha 

September  13, 

Joseph  Perkins 

“ Elisha 

October 

11, 

Joseph  Browne  Junr 

“ Molly 

“ 

4 4 

Jacob  Dwinell  Junr 

“ Anna 

“ 

18, 

Oliver  Perkins 

“ Lucy 

November 

8, 

John  Batcheller 

“ Anna 

“ 

15, 

Abel  Perkins 

“ Jacob 

4 4 

“ 

Richerd  Foster 

“ Dorcas 

Decembr 

6, 

baptized  at  Boxford  first  Parrish. 
John  Peabody  his  Lucy 

January 

17,  1773. 

Thomas  Gould 

“ Mercy 

44 

“ 

Henry  Bradstreet 

“ Daniel 

February 

14, 

Isaac  Dempsy 

“ Hannah 

March 

14, 

baptized  at  Danvers. 

Solomon  Dodge  Junr 

“ Amos 

April 

11, 

John  Lampson  Junr 

“ Eunice 

“ 

18, 

John  Dwinell 

“ Esther 

“ 

25, 

Samu  Cree 

“ Moses  •) 

“ Molly  }twins 

May 

9, 

BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD.  39 


July 


Pelatiah  Cummings  his  Oliver  June 

Thomas  Perkins  Junr  “ Thomas 
by  mr  Lesslie. 

Stephen  Towne  Junr  “ Molly 

David  Towne  Junr  “ Ebenezer 

Moses  Perkins  “ Sarah 

A Negro  servant  Child  Peter  belonging  to  Lieu1 
John  Baker  Junr 

Isaac  Hobbs  his  Elisabeth 

Joseph  Gould  “ Joseph 

Sam11  Bradstreet  “ Moses 

Sam11  Fisk  “ Sam11 

Anna  Towne  of  adult  age 
Dorcas  Towne  of  adult  age 


6,  1772. 
13, 

27, 

11, 


8,  1773. 
29, 


Benjamin  Kimball 
Robert  Balch 
Widow  Sarah  Fiske 
Elnathan  Hubbard 
Richard  Potter 
Stephen  Perkins  Junr 
Nehemiah  Towne 
John  Rea 
John  Perkins  3d 


his  Mehetabel 
“ Solomon 
her  Sarah 
his  Mehetabel 
“ Joseph 
“ Aaron 
“ Nehemiah 
“ Ruth 
“ Mehetabel 


October  10, 


“ 24, 

November  7, 
“ 14, 


ye  ordinance  administered  at  sd  Perkins 
House,  ye  Child  being  dangerously  ill. 


Joseph  Hood 
Nehemiah  Towne 
Israel  Clark  Junr 


Widow  Sarah  Towne 
John  Gould  Junr 
Thos  Cummings 
Cornelius  Balch 
Asa  Smith 
baptized  by  mr  Nathan11  Porter. 
Daniel  Clarke  his  Daniel 


his  Huldah 
“ Ichabod 
“ Israel 
“ Anna 
“ Sarah 
her  Oliver 
his  Betty 
“ Daniel 
“ Richerd 
“ Hannah 


January 


March 


2, 

28, 


13, 

20, 


May 


1774. 


22, 


29, 


July  the  11th  1774,  The  Revnd  Mr  John  Emerson  De- 
parted this  Life  Aged  67  years,  five  months,  and  four 
days.  He  was  Ordained  November  27th  1728. 


40  BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD. 


Daniel  Averill  his  Mehetible  August  21 

Abraham  Hobbs  Jnr.  his  Lydia  “ “ 

Nath11  Fisk  “ Benjamin  “ “ 

baptized  by  Mr  Smith  of  Middletown. 

Samuel  Comings  His  Sam11  October  16 

By  Mr  Stone  of  Reding. 

Joseph  perkins  his  Ely  November  6 

by  Mr  Swain. 

Jacob  Gould  “ Huldah  March  5, 

Jacob  Kimball  “ Samuel 

Dan11  Porter  “ Nat11 

Dan11  Porter  “ David 

Isaac  Hobbs  “ Munson 

Stephen  Perkins  Jnr  “ Prissa 

Thomas  Gould  “ Phebe 

^•<Baptized  by  mr  Daniel  Emerson  of  Hollis. 

Thos  Mower  his  Olive 

Stephen  Towne  Jnr.  “ Joseph 

John  Batchellor  “ Jacob 

Henry  Bradstreet  “ Bille 

Robert  Balch  “ Sarah 

Solomon  Doge  “ Solomon 

Moses  Perkins,  son  of  Oliver  Perkins  was 

Baptised  [Jany  14, 

Joseph  Emerson,  son  of  Thomas  Emerson  was 
" feaptised  Jany  14 

Betty  Cummings,  Daughter  of  Palatiah  Cum- 
mings was  Baptised  “ “ 

Peggy  Furner,  Daughter  of  Mr Furner 

was  Baptised  “ “ 

Sarah  Kimball,  Daughter  of  Benjm  Kimball  was 
Baptised  “ “ 

Joseph  Towne  his  Lydia  [March  3, 

Jacob  Dwinell  Junr  “ Mehetable  [March  3, 

Baptised  By  Mr  Manassah  Cuttlar  of  Ipswich 
Hamblet. 

his  John  March  3, 

“ Sarah  “ “ 

“ Mehetable  “ “ 


John  Dwinell 
David  Towne  Junr 
John  Perkins  3d 
By  Mr  Cuttlar. 

Asa  Smith  “ Manassah 

By  Mr  Frisbe  of  Ipswich. 

Stephen  Foster  junr  his  Nabby 

Samuel  Fisk  “ Ezra 

By  Mr  Nathaniel  Porter. 


May 

July 

<< 


, 1774. 
1775. 


1776.?] 
, 1776. 

1776.] 

1776.] 

1776. 


BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD.  41 


Thomas  Perkins,  junr  his  Samuel 

John  Balch  “ John 

Samuel  Cree  “ Joseph 

By  Mr  George  Laslee  of  Lime  Brook. 
Daniel  Clark  his  Daniel 

I [s]  aac  Hobbs  “ Samiel 

By  Mr  Levi  Frisbe  of  Ipswich. 

Thomas  Cummings  his  John  Bordman 

John  Dwinel  “ Mahetabell 

Daniel  Porter  “ Sarah 

By  the  Revnd  Mr  Dane  of  Ipswich. 

Nathaniel  Fiske  his  Moses 

Joseph  Hood  “ Bettey 

By  the  revd  Mr  Lesslie. 

Jacob  Kimball  his  Benjamin 

by  the  revnd  M1'  Spring  of  Newbury. 
Andrew,  son  of  Stephen  Towne,  Junr 
Ruth,  Phebe,  and  William 
Children  of  William  Estie. 

Azariah,  son  of  Nathaniel  Averel  Junr 
Jessee,  Son  of  John  Perkins  of  Boxford 
Betty  Davghter  of  Palatiah  Cummings 
Hannah  Davghter  of  Abraham  Hobbs  Junr 
Mary  Davghter  of  David  Towne  Jr 
Susanna  Davghter  of  Isaac  Hobbs 


William  Son  of  Oliver  Perkins 
Lucy  Davgter  of  Daniel  Hood 
All  Baptized  in  one  day  by  the 
revnd  mr  Holyoke  of  Boxford. 

Ebenezer  Peabody,  Son  of  John  Peabody 
Baptized  by  Mr  Manassa  Cutler  of  Ipswich 
Hamblet. 

Daniel  Clarke  his  Elijah 

Samuel  Perkins  “ Ezra 

John  Dwinel  “ Esther 

Benjamin  Hobbs  “ Daniel 

Baptized  by  the  Revnd  Mr  Wadsworth  of 

Dan  verse. 

Philip  Thomas  his  Philip 

Ebenezer  Goodhue  “ Ebenezer 

Baptized  by  ye  Revnd  Mr  Wadsworth  of 
Danvers. 

Oliver  Perkins  his  Lois 


September  15,  1776. 


December  1 , 

May  4 th,  1777. 


August  24, 

i i ( i 

February  9,  1778. 

April  12, 


November  8th 
April  25th,  1779. 


July  27th 


July  4 th 


42  BAPTISMAL  RECORDS  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  TOPSFIELD. 


Eliezer  Lake  Juur  his  Eliezer 
By  the  Revd  Mr  Dana  of  Ipswich. 

John  Batcheller  his  Jacob 

by  the  Revnd  Mr  Lesslie  of  Lyne  Brook 
Parrish  in  Ipswich. 

Isaac  Hobbs  his  Humphry 

David  Hobbs  “ Lucy 

By  ve  Revnd  Mr  Adams  of  Haverhill. 

William  Estie  his  Debbe 

by  the  Revnd  Mr  Cutler  of  Ipswich  Hamblet. 


July  4th  1779. 
August  24th 

September  5th 

November  7th 


Rev.  Daniel  Breck,  the  lifth  pastor  of  the  Church  in 
Topsfield,  was  ordained  to  the  Charge,  the  17th  of  No- 
vember, 1779. 

Note.  This  includes  all  the  baptisms  to  the  time  of  the  ordination  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Breck. — Editor. 


I